22mo–3y10 minFree playReadingFamily time

Big-Little Words Walkabout

A playful routine where you uses ‘big’ and ‘little’ during play and story moments with your child, supporting size language, comparing, and simple alternating patterns.

What you'll need

Essentials

2–4 pairs of everyday items with a clear size difference (e.g., big spoon/little spoon, big cup/little cup, big box/little box)
a small space to play on the floor or at a table

Nice to have

a picture book with clear illustrations
a small basket or tray (to hold the ‘big’ and ‘little’ items)

Movement level: low

What you'll do

The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.

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What this develops

What it practices

Anticipates specific time-based events such as mealtimes or home time.
Observable behaviour from Development Matters

Where it comes from

Framework: Early Years Foundation Stage (England)
Source: Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
Original guidance: “Use descriptive words like ‘big’ and ‘little’ in everyday play situations and through books and stories.”
License: Open Government Licence v3.0