16mo–2.2y9 minSelf-care
Button-by-Button Maths
A getting-dressed routine where the parent talks about everyday maths (one button for each hole), supports one-to-one matching, and invites simple counting, giving, and marking to build early number understanding.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a coat/cardigan with buttons (or a zip)
- 2–4 large safe objects for counting (e.g., big bottle tops, blocks)
Nice to have
- paper and a thick crayon
- a small bowl or cup
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneMatches parts of objects that fit together, e.g. puts lid on teapot.Mind· 16mo–2.2y· core
- MilestoneUses single meaningful wordsMind· 8mo–20mo· core· Steps 1, 4
- MilestoneFollows visually supported instructionsMind· 8mo–18mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneScribbles or makes marksBody· 12mo–22mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneBimanual asymmetric hand useBody· 20mo–2y· stretch
- MilestoneCopies heard wordsMind· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 1
What it practices
- Selects a small number of objects from a group when asked, for example, ‘please give me one’, ‘please give me two’.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Recites some number names in sequence.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Creates and experiments with symbols and marks representing ideas of number.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Begins to make comparisons between quantities.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses some language of quantities, such as ‘more’ and ‘a lot’.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Talk about the maths in everyday situations, e.g. doing up a coat, one hole for each button.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)