• "May I have one?"
• "How many would you like?"
• "I'd like all the pieces you have. How many do you have?"
• "I'd like two red ones and four blue ones, please."
• "I'd like two red ones, three yellow ones, and four pink ones, please."
• "What would you like to give me?"

      This game requires two players and a collection of things. The type of toy or item depends on the child's age. As play proceeds, the type of question will become more sophisticated. As a starting point, let's give the Child, age two, all the pieces.

      The Adult asks, "May I have one?"

      The Child checks the collection and may hand over the requested piece. If so, play continues with the Adult asking, "May I have one?" or "May I have two?" If not, the Adult might give the Child more time to respond or repeat the question, "May I have one?"

      If the exchange still doesn't occur, the Adult might say, "Thank you, this is one," take a piece and then continue play by asking, "May I have one, please?"

      Let's change the game slightly.

      We'll give the Child all the pieces, but this time the Child asks, "How many would you like?" or just, "How many?"

      The Adult responds: "Two, please."

      The Child counts the required pieces and hands them to the Adult who then asks, "How many would you like?"

      The Adult responds with: "One, please," or "Three, please."

      If the Child responds with the correct number, play continues. If not, the Adult might give the Child more time, or help the child to count the required pieces.

      This kind of simple play: "How many would you like?"; "Two please"; "How many would you like?"; "Six, please"; ... "How many would you like?"; "Three, please" may continue for some time. Eventually, the Child asks, "How many would you like?" and the Adult responds: "I'd like all the pieces you have. How many do you have?"

      With the completion of this turn, the Adult and Child have completely reversed roles. The player who once asked, "How many would you like?" now has the job of counting out the requested pieces. This is good. EACH PLAYER SHOULD LEARN AND PLAY BOTH PARTS AT SOME TIME. Role reversal is good when it happens more than once in a playing session.

      As the child develops, the requests for pieces change and the collection may include more than one kind of item. Players may say: "I'd like sixteen" or "I'd like two red ones and four blue ones, please" or "I'd like two red ones, three yellow ones, and four pink ones, please" or "What would you like to give me?"