8mo–20mo10 minQuiet timeFree playReading
Button & Flap Discovery
A calm, focused play routine using one or two interactive objects (buttons, flaps, lids) to help your child practise pressing, pulling, opening, and repeating actions with close supervision.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a board book with flaps (or a thick book with sturdy pages)
- a safe ‘button/press’ item (pop-up toy, large-button toy, or a clean container with a flip lid)
- a clear floor/table space
Nice to have
- a small bowl to ‘hide’ an item under a cloth
- a second interactive object for variety
- a phone timer (to keep it short)
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneShows interest in toys with buttons, flaps and simple mechanisms and beginning to learn to operate them.Mind· 8mo–20mo· core· Steps 1, 2
- MilestoneOperates mechanical toys, e.g. turns the knob on a wind-up toy or pulls back on a friction car.Mind· 16mo–2.2y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneCopies simple gestures or actionsMind· 6mo–2.3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneBimanual asymmetric hand useBody· 20mo–2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneExplores and handles booksMind· 6mo–12mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestonePincer grasp for small objectsBody· 8mo–12mo· core
- MilestoneIndependent page turningBody· 10mo–22mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestonePalmar grasp on writing toolBody· 10mo–22mo· stretch
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide resources that stimulate babies to handle and manipulate things, e.g. toys with buttons to press or books with flaps to open.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)