About ten minutes if useful. Pause, repeat, change or finish anytime.
Say this, or use your own words
Shall we keep playing, change something, start again or finish?
More words, only if useful: We can keep playing an idea we like, change one part, make a completely new place, or finish. Which sounds good? There is no final project to complete. Your next idea can be tiny, funny, quiet or something we have never tried.
Ready in a moment
The repeat-menu aid is optional. Offer only earlier items that are actually available; otherwise this is a fresh play invitation with no record or setup required.
A loose play path
- 0–2 minutes: Offer keep, change, different or finish using words, familiar signs or clear broad choices. Keep a stop choice available throughout; it does not mean the child failed the sequence.
- 2–5 minutes: Follow the selected direction. Keep one wanted idea, change one named part or create a fresh first part. Ask before preserving, displaying or photographing anything.
- 5–8 minutes: Enjoy the chosen scene. One useful question is ‘What shall happen next?’ The child can decline a question and continue their play without explanation.
- 8–10 minutes: Close in the child's chosen way. An optional adult note can help prepare another turn, but a page, photo, performance or progress log is never owed.
Choose the useful route
- Draw or arrange: Put an actual available picture beside a fresh blank page. The child chooses keep, one change or new. Do not present an adult model as their previous work. A deliberate unchanged picture can remain the choice; no improvement checklist.
- Tell, sign or point: Offer the four next-play choices using the child's familiar communication. Confirm an unclear selection, then follow it. A spoken or signed story can continue without recording; repeating enjoyable play is worthwhile without an added academic target.
- Small start or no materials: Offer ‘one more imaginary visit or finish?’ If another visit is wanted, make one scene with the child's own choice. If not, close warmly. The series can resume anywhere later; no catch-up or reward for doing all ten.
Two ideas to borrow or change
- Home fiction: The child starts a new pretend kitchen instead of keeping an earlier cloud room. One imaginary bowl mark begins the story. This is a fresh creation, not evidence of lost learning from the earlier scene.
- Festival fiction: A made-up quiet gathering keeps its waiting patch but changes the visitor's message. The child plays privately, then stops. No real celebration, cultural practice or audience reaction is assumed.
Notice, then choose the next move
Notice an actual chosen next step and whether adult preparation was useful. Review the invitation and available supports, not the child's worth, compliance or developmental status.
Later, with or without this session: Pick any of the ten starts, repeat a favourite or follow an entirely new child-led interest. This is a reusable path, not a compulsory two-week timetable.
More play, only if wanted: Let the child suggest a new play start for a future card. An adult can write its plain-language invitation with permission and identify the child's idea and adult wording separately.
Optional aid: What shall we do next? · exact text alternative
Adult intention: Choose the next play direction and use an available idea without a completion or memory test.
All starts · Parent guide · Play helper · Sources and limits
© NeuroForgeIO Pty Ltd 2026 · CC BY 4.0. Adapt freely with credit.