Copy My Box Moves
Copy My Box Moves is a calm cognitive activity for toddlers aged 13–20 months (corrected age). You and your child each get an empty box; you do one simple action with yours, pause, and see whether they copy it, a playful imitation game. It takes 3–8 minutes, needs no prep and works indoors.
Updated
Copy My Box Moves
You and your child each get an empty box; you do one simple action with yours, pause, and see whether they copy it, a playful imitation game.
- Ages (corrected)
- 13–20 months
- Time
- 3–8 min
- Prep
- No prep
- Where
- Indoors · Calm
You need
- two empty cardboard boxes of similar size
- two matching large blocks or soft toys
Steps
- Sit facing your child, each with an empty box and a matching block.
- Do one clear action with your box: tap the top, drop the block in, or peek inside.
- Pause for about five seconds with an expectant smile and wait.
- If they copy, copy them back and smile; if not, do it once more, slowly.
- Let them lead a round: whatever they do with their box, you copy.
Safety first
- Remove staples, plastic wrap and loose packing tape from the boxes first.
- Use blocks too big to fit through a toilet-paper tube.
No level picked yet. The 0–4 scale is a learning log, not a test.
Not yet: show it once, then let them explore
Watch for the first sign: copies a one-step action after one demonstration.
Not yet is information, not a verdict. Do it once yourself while they watch, pause, and offer it again in a few days.
Simplify one step
Next time: start with an action that makes a sound, like drumming on the box, which is easier to copy.
Give the least help that works: wait first, then point or show, and guide hands only briefly.
Repeat the same version and fade your help
As you step back, watch for: copies a new action they have not done before.
Pause a few seconds longer before you model, and swap showing it for a point or a gesture.
Offer it once more, then add one change
When it is easy again: choose an action they have not seen before, like resting the box on your head.
Change only that one thing and keep everything else the same.
Ready for one step up
Choose an action they have not seen before, like resting the box on your head. Or carry it somewhere new: play the same copy game with a different pair of objects, such as two cups or two hats.
Starting it on their own or using it in a new place is the strongest sign. Still change one thing at a time.
Stop and rest this one
In 2-3 days, come back with the simpler version: start with an action that makes a sound, like drumming on the box, which is easier to copy.
End with something calming together. One hard moment never means a delay.
Stop on a good note
Keep this version and keep it short next time: 3 minutes is plenty.
They can do it, but it was not fun today. Add difficulty only once it feels easy and enjoyable again.
How to play Copy My Box Moves
5 steps, about 3–8 minutes of focus time, no prep.
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Sit facing your child, each with an empty box and a matching block.
-
Do one clear action with your box: tap the top, drop the block in, or peek inside.
-
Pause for about five seconds with an expectant smile and wait.
-
If they copy, copy them back and smile; if not, do it once more, slowly.
-
Let them lead a round: whatever they do with their box, you copy.
What you need for Copy My Box Moves
| What you need | Two empty cardboard boxes of similar size and two matching large blocks or soft toys |
|---|---|
| Prep | No prep |
| Focus time | 3–8 minutes |
| Where | Indoors |
| Energy | Calm: good after active play or before a nap |
| Ages (corrected) | 13–20 months |
| Domains | Cognitive, Social-emotional |
| Low-prep menu | Yes: no prep and 10 minutes or less |
| Fits the day | As a quiet moment or on a rainy day indoors |
Easier and harder versions
Change one thing at a time. Drop to the easier version when Copy My Box Moves stalls; move one rung up only once it looks easy on a few different days.
-
Easier
Start with an action that makes a sound, like drumming on the box, which is easier to copy.
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As written
The 5 steps above, for 3–8 minutes.
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Harder 1
Choose an action they have not seen before, like resting the box on your head.
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Harder 2
Do two actions in a row (block in, then shake) and wait.
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Hardest
Show an action, put the boxes away, and bring them out again a few minutes later.
What to watch for
The signs of progress in Copy My Box Moves, mapped to the 0–4 learning scale the family plan uses (a tracking aid, not an assessment).
| Level | What it looks like here |
|---|---|
| 2 · After a model | Does it right after you show it or point. Watch for: copies a one-step action after one demonstration. |
| 3 · Independent | Does it when offered, with no demonstration. Watch for: copies a new action they have not done before and starts an action and watches to see whether you copy. |
| 4 · Spontaneous | Starts it unprompted or in a new place. Watch for: repeats a shown action when the boxes come out later. |
Try it somewhere new
Level 4 means the skill travels. Once Copy My Box Moves is easy, change the place, the person or the material:
- Play the same copy game with a different pair of objects, such as two cups or two hats.
- Let another caregiver or an older child be the one to copy.
Words to model
During Copy My Box Moves, say “my turn”, “your turn”, “tap tap” and “in the box” at the moment they happen, one at a time, then pause so your child can answer with a look, a gesture, a sign or a word.
Safety for Copy My Box Moves
- Remove staples, plastic wrap and loose packing tape from the boxes first.
- Use blocks too big to fit through a toilet-paper tube.
Why it works
Copy games are a simple form of the responsive back-and-forth interaction that a large randomized caregiving trial supported; copying others also appears on CDC's 15- and 18-month checklists.
Evidence rating: Strong: trial evidence or firm guideline support. Cited: Yousafzai et al., The Lancet (2014): responsive stimulation trial, Pakistan, CDC milestones by 15 months and CDC milestones by 18 months.
Skills and ages
Copy My Box Moves practises imitating actions, taking turns and spatial words and fits ages 13 to 20 months. Each month below opens more activities for that age.
Skills practised
Activities by month (13–20 months)
Milestone checklists nearby
Activities like Copy My Box Moves
Scarf Copycat Dance is the closest match: it also practises imitating actions and spatial words. It suits 19–28 months, takes 5–10 minutes (a little longer than Copy My Box Moves) and needs no prep. For a younger child, Tube Talk Echo Sounds starts at 12 months; for an older child, Scarf Copycat Dance runs to 28 months.
Ranked by shared skills, materials and ages
Frequently asked questions
What age is Copy My Box Moves for?
Copy My Box Moves suits 13–20 months, using corrected age for a child born early. For a younger or hesitant child, start with the easier version: start with an action that makes a sound, like drumming on the box, which is easier to copy.
How long does Copy My Box Moves take?
About 3–8 minutes of focused play over 5 steps, with no prep. Stop while it is still fun and repeat it on another day.
How do I make Copy My Box Moves harder?
Change one thing at a time. First: choose an action they have not seen before, like resting the box on your head. Then: do two actions in a row (block in, then shake) and wait. Hardest: show an action, put the boxes away, and bring them out again a few minutes later.
How do I keep Copy My Box Moves safe?
Play it only with an adult within arm’s reach. Remove staples, plastic wrap and loose packing tape from the boxes first. Use blocks too big to fit through a toilet-paper tube.
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Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.