Contingency play

Helping your child feel empowered by creating predictable and responsive interactions

As a child, I remember my mother and I playing a game where she puffed out her cheeks for me to ‘pop’ with my finger. The rule was simple: she couldn’t pop until I pressed. I loved the sense of control, the anticipation, and the laughter that followed. This is the essence of contingency play - it shows your child that her actions have predictable and enjoyable consequences, building her sense of power and agency.