Stop Waiting. Start Playing.

When new staff or family join us, one question comes up a lot:
“Why do you have multiples of the same toys?”

It’s a great question, because honestly, before I really leaned into using ESDM techniques, I didn’t do this either. Now, it stands out as something that feels a little unusual at first, but makes so much sense once you see it in action.

The reason is actually pretty simple.

If there’s only one toy, then one person is playing… and the other is waiting.

And that “waiting” can quickly turn into something else — checking out, looking around the room, grabbing a different toy, or disengaging from the interaction altogether.

Let’s be honest, waiting for your turn can be hard. And it’s not always very fun.

But when both the child and adult have the same (or very similar) toy, everything changes.

Now we can:

• Play at the same time

• Watch each other

• Imitate each other

• Build on each other’s ideas

• Stay engaged together

Instead of taking turns, we’re creating shared moments.

This also connects to something I talked about in a previous post - eliminating competition. When we limit the number of toys but provide duplicates, we reduce distractions and keep the focus on interaction.

We don’t need a room full of toys.
We need the right toys used in a meaningful, connected way.

This is where the growth happens:

• Following the child’s lead

• Inviting them to follow yours

• Building play together

• Co-creating moments that strengthen communication and connection

At Springling Therapy, we often describe this as a dance, a back-and-forth interaction where both partners are engaged, responsive, and connected.

So if you’re trying this at home, give it a shot:
Instead of sharing one toy, try having one each.

You might be surprised how much more engagement, connection, and learning you see when you’re both fully in the play together.

Keep playing,

Tessa