Paper Finger Puppets

Step by step

1. 1Print, cut out, and wrap 2 or 3 puppets around your fingers before you start.
2. 2Sit baby right in front of you, 30-40 cm away, when they are calm and relaxed.
3. 3Pop the first puppet out from behind your back with a playful voice ("Peekaboo, here I am!").
4. 4Bring it to life: wave hello, sing a nursery rhyme, gently tap their nose, hide, and come back. If they grab the puppet, let them hold and explore it before you carry on.
5. 5Pause after each sentence and treat baby's sounds like real replies: answer them back directly.
6. 6Have the puppet say goodbye with a little ritual (a kiss, a soft song) before going back to "sleep" in its box.

What it builds

A little character talking and listening teaches baby the heart of any real conversation: taking turns. When their coos and babbles get an answer, it sparks their eagerness to talk.