Taking turns: how the skill grows from 12 to 36 months
Taking turns means taking turns in games and talk: my turn, your turn. Turn-taking is the base of shared games, later sharing with other children, and conversation. Joining in simple back-and-forth games, such as clapping rhymes, is a CDC 12-month milestone. Waiting for a turn with toys develops slowly through the third year and usually still needs an adult nearby.
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Taking turns: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Rolls it back. Rolls a ball back to you after you roll it.
Activities that fit this step
- Tube Talk Echo Sounds · 12–20 months · 3–6 min
- Two-Block Tower Trade · 12–20 months · 3–8 min
- Copy My Box Moves · 13–20 months · 3–8 min
Next step: Waits a moment. Waits for you to add a block before adding theirs.
Activities that fit this step
- Blanket Picnic Playdate · 15–26 months · 10–20 min
- Pot Drum Echo Turns · 15–26 months · 4–8 min
- One for You, One for Me Snack · 15–27 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Uses turn words. Says "my turn" or "your turn", or hands the toy over.
Activities that fit this step
- Blanket Wave Teddy Bounce · 17–28 months · 5–10 min
- Laundry-Basket Ball Toss · 17–28 months · 5–12 min
- Cushion Ramp Car Turns · 18–28 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Turns with a child. Takes turns on a slide or with a drum alongside another child, with help.
Activities that fit this step
- Ready-Set-Go Chalk Dash · 19–31 months · 5–12 min
- Bubble Wand Turns · 20–30 months · 5–12 min
- Pour-and-Rub Garden Hand-Wash · 20–32 months · 5–10 min
Top of the ladder (turns with a child). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Kick It Back to Me · 22–36 months · 5–10 min
- Box Drum Copy-the-Beat · 24–34 months · 3–8 min
- Name-and-Roll Family Circle · 24–34 months · 5–10 min
The taking turns ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 36 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Back-and-forth games
Plays peekaboo or clapping games and waits for your part.
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Rolls it back
Rolls a ball back to you after you roll it.
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Waits a moment
Waits for you to add a block before adding theirs.
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Uses turn words
Says "my turn" or "your turn", or hands the toy over.
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Turns with a child
Takes turns on a slide or with a drum alongside another child, with help.
When taking turns usually shows up
This page follows taking turns from 12 to 36 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month, 18-month, 24-month, 30-month and 36-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 16 activities practise taking turns (4 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 36 months. 6 of them need no prep and take 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 12 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve taking turns. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Joins in simple games with you, such as clapping rhymes. |
Activities that practise taking turns
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 5 social-emotional, 3 creativity & pretend, 3 gross motor, 2 practical life, 1 cognitive, 1 early concepts and 1 fine motor. Quickest to start: Tube Talk Echo Sounds (3–6 minutes).
Step 1: Back-and-forth games
Step 2: Rolls it back
Step 3: Waits a moment
Step 4: Uses turn words
Skills practised alongside
The activities for taking turns most often also work on imitating actions (4), making music (3), counting (2), following one-step directions (2) and action songs (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Play very short turn games with a ball, a drum or a stack of blocks.
- Say "my turn", "your turn" clearly and hand the toy over each time.
- Use a sand timer or a short song to mark how long a turn lasts.
What to avoid
- Expecting your toddler to share treasured toys with other children without adult help.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If your child does not join back-and-forth games with you by about 12 months, or seems uninterested in shared play as they get older, mention it at a checkup.
Worried about taking turns between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start taking turns?
Joining in simple back-and-forth games, such as clapping rhymes, is a CDC 12-month milestone. Waiting for a turn with toys develops slowly through the third year and usually still needs an adult nearby. The first step to look for: plays peekaboo or clapping games and waits for your part.
How can I help my toddler with taking turns?
Play very short turn games with a ball, a drum or a stack of blocks. Say "my turn", "your turn" clearly and hand the toy over each time. A good first activity is Tube Talk Echo Sounds (12–20 months).
What should I avoid when practising taking turns?
Expecting your toddler to share treasured toys with other children without adult help.
When should I mention taking turns to the pediatrician?
If your child does not join back-and-forth games with you by about 12 months, or seems uninterested in shared play as they get older, mention it at a checkup. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.