Are you worried about your child’s social interaction skills? Or do you simply want to give your baby or toddler the very best start when it comes to communicating with others?
Perhaps you have an older child who has been diagnosed with autism, and you want to support your newest family member from the very beginning.
Here’s the good news: some of the best social skills games for babies and toddlers don’t require special toys, expensive programs, or hours of practice. They happen naturally during the ordinary moments you’re already sharing with your baby — and the most important one of all is simply learning to wait for your baby to “respond” to something you have done or said.
Every Social Skills Game Begins with Taking Turns
Before babies use words, they learn one of the most important rules of communication — conversation goes back and forth.
Think about every conversation you have as an adult. One person talks. The other person listens. Then they respond. Then you respond. This back-and-forth pattern is called “serve and return,” and it is the foundation beneath every social skills game in this article — and every conversation your child will ever have.
Babies begin learning this months before they can say their first word.
They smile… you smile back. They kick… you laugh. They look at you… you respond.
Very quickly they discover something amazing: “What I do changes what you do.” That is the beginning of communication.
The Magic Is in the Wait
Many parents think they need to keep entertaining their baby by making the game go faster and faster. In fact, the opposite is true. The real learning happens when you pause. If we never pause, our children never get a turn.
When you stop and wait, you give your baby an opportunity to communicate in whatever way they can. They may smile, kick, wiggle, reach, laugh, look at you, or simply stare expectantly. Those are all early ways of saying, “Again!”
When you notice those little signals and respond, your baby learns one of life’s biggest lessons: “I can communicate, and people respond to me.” That simple discovery becomes the foundation for language, conversation, friendships, and relationships.
Your First Social Skills Game: A Turn-Taking Game for Diaper Changes
One social skills game you can play several times a day takes less than a minute. After you’ve finished changing your baby’s diaper, gently hold their feet and pretend they’re running. Using an excited voice, say,
“Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!”
Then… stop. This is the most important part. Don’t immediately start again. Wait. Look at your baby. They may smile, kick, wiggle, clap, squeal, or simply look at you expectantly. Whatever your baby’s way of saying “Again!” is, respond with excitement.
“Oh! You want more! Here we go…Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!”
That little pause gives your baby a turn in the conversation. Although they aren’t using words yet, they’re already learning that communication goes back and forth.
More Everyday Social Skills Games That Teach Turn-Taking
The wonderful thing about these social skills games is that they can happen almost anywhere.
Feeding Time
During feeding, you’re already taking turns. You offer a spoonful. Your baby opens their mouth. You offer another bite. When they’re finished, they may turn away or close their mouth. They’re communicating, and you’re responding.
Bath Time
Bath time is full of opportunities for playful interaction. Play peek-a-boo with the washcloth. Hide your face and say, “Where’s Mommy?” or “Where’s Daddy?” Then lower the cloth and say, “Peek-a-boo! I see you!” Now pause. Wait for your baby’s smile, laugh, wiggle, or excited look before doing it again.
You can also play, “I’m gonna get your toes!” Slowly move your fingers toward your baby’s toes. Then exclaim, “Got your toes!” Or use a small cup to pour warm water gently over your baby’s tummy. Say, “Here comes the water!” Pour. Pause. Wait. Did your baby smile? Kick? Look at you? Wonderful — they’ve just taken another conversational turn.
Remember, some babies need to experience a game several times before they understand that it’s a game. Be patient. The goal isn’t to entertain your baby — it’s to give them opportunities to participate.
At the Park
If you’re at the playground and your baby enjoys the baby swing, you’ve found another wonderful social skills game. Give the swing a few gentle pushes. Then, when your baby swings back toward you, catch the swing. Stop. Wait. Your baby may look surprised. They may kick, wiggle, smile, or look directly at you. Once they’ve let you know they want more, simply smile and say, “Ready? Here we go!” Then give them another gentle push.
Other Easy Social Skills Games
Many simple games naturally teach back-and-forth interaction. You can gently swing your baby in your arms. Spin them slowly in an office chair (only if they are sitting safely and enjoy it). Play a gentle game of tickle. Hold their hand and play “Ready…Set…Go!” The pattern is always the same:
Play… Pause… Wait… Watch… Respond.
One important note: if your child looks away, stiffens, cries, or seems uncomfortable, they’re telling you they’re finished. Respect that communication too. Learning that adults listen to “no more” is just as important as learning that adults respond to “more.”
If your child is walking — or you are willing to carry them — you can play “Ready, Set, GO!” Hold your child’s hand and say “Should we run? Here – we – GO! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!”, then stop abruptly, “STOP!” and wait to see if your child smiles, laughs, pulls your arm, or even better looks at you with anticipation in their eyes saying, “Let’s do it again!” The gold standard of social interaction on this game would be for your child to look at you continuously while holding your hand waiting for you to say “GO!”
When you play “Ready…Set…Go!” or “Run! Run! Run!”, change the words from time to time. Instead of always saying “Ready…Set…Go!” try “Here we go!” or “One…Two…Three…Go!” or “On your mark…Get set…Go!” or “Let’s go run!” You want to change it up so that your child responds to you by looking at you rather than just listening to the words. After a while your child may begin anticipating the fun before you even start running. It is important that you are in control of the game so that your child needs to give you a request to continue.
Quick List: Social Skills Games You Can Play Today
Here are the simple social skills games from this article, all built on the same play–pause–wait–watch–respond pattern:
- The “Run! Run! Run!” game during diaper changes
- Peek-a-boo with the washcloth at bath time
- “I’m gonna get your toes!” — a slow, suspenseful chase
- Pouring warm water over the tummy, with a pause each time
- Catch-and-wait on the baby swing at the park
- “Ready…Set…Go!” hand-in-hand, then a sudden stop
- Gentle tickle, arm-swinging, or a slow chair spin — always play, pause, and wait
One Thing You Can Do Today
Birth to 6 months: Play “I’m gonna get your toes!” during bath time. Pause and wait to see how your baby tells you they want more.
6 to 12 months: Push your baby on a swing a few times, stop, and wait for them to let you know they’d like another turn.
12 to 18 months: Hold your child’s hand and play “Ready…Set…Go!” Run together, stop suddenly, then wait for your child to ask for more using words, gestures, smiles, or actions.
Although these social skills games were designed for babies and toddlers, they are also appropriate for older children who are still developing social interaction skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good social skills games for toddlers?
The best social skills games for toddlers are simple, repetitive turn-taking games like peek-a-boo, “Ready…Set…Go!”, and the catch-and-wait swing game. They teach the back-and-forth rhythm of conversation without any special equipment.
Can babies really play social skills games?
Yes. Long before they talk, babies play social skills games every time you smile and they smile back, or you pause and they wiggle for “more.” These early back-and-forth exchanges are the foundation of all later social interaction.
What social skills games help children with autism?
The same gentle turn-taking games — with extra repetition, clear pauses, and respect for when your child signals “all done.” Predictable, low-pressure games like “Run! Run! Run!” give children on the spectrum repeated, comfortable practice with back-and-forth interaction. If you have concerns, a speech-language pathologist can help tailor these games to your child.
How do games teach social skills?
Games teach social skills by turning the invisible rules of conversation — take a turn, wait, respond — into something a child can feel and predict. Each round of play, pause, and response shows your child that their actions affect another person, which is the very heart of social interaction.
A Thought from Cheryl
After more than 40 years as a speech-language pathologist, I’ve learned that babies and toddlers are communicating with us long before they can say words. Those first communication attempts — looking, smiling, wriggling, kicking, laughing, reaching, pulling, and pointing — are every bit as important as first words, because they form the foundation of social interaction.
As parents, all we need to do is give our children the opportunity… pause… wait… watch… and respond. Those little moments may seem like ordinary parent-child interactions, but they are laying the foundation for a lifetime of conversations and relationships.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need special toys or long lessons to begin building your child’s social interaction skills. The simplest social skills games work best — you just need to play… pause… wait… watch… and respond.
Whether it’s a diaper change, bath time, a swing at the park, or a game of “Run! Run! Run!”, every time your child learns that their actions can make something happen, they are learning the back-and-forth of social interaction. Those tiny moments may only last a few seconds, but repeated hundreds of times, they become the foundation for conversation, friendships, and relationships that will last a lifetime.
Remember: every conversation your child will ever have begins with a smile, a pause, and someone who lovingly waits for their turn.
Watch this short video for more turn-taking games you can try today.