8mo–20mo7 minBath timeToiletingMealtime
Care-Time Finger Plays: Round and Round Routine
A short care-time routine that uses finger plays (including “Round and Round the Garden”) during feeding, changing, and bathing. You’ll build joyful shared attention while supporting early hand control, two-handed play, and sensory mark making.
What you'll need
Essentials
- your hands (for finger plays)
- a soft washcloth
- two baby-safe items to hold (e.g., two spoons or two small cloths)
- a tray or flat surface (or the bath side) for sensory play
- a little water or bath foam (supervised)
Nice to have
- paper and a chunky crayon (supervised, for a very short scribble during changing time)
- masking tape to secure paper
- a small towel for quick clean-up
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
- MilestoneAnticipates repeated sounds, sights and actions, e.g. when an adult demonstrates an action toy several times.Mind· 8mo–20mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneMakes connections between their movement and the marks they make.Body· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneListens to familiar sounds, words, or finger plays.Mind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneBangs two held objects togetherBody· 8mo–10mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneHolds one object in each handBody· 4mo–10mo· stretch
- MilestoneShows interest in making marksMind· 10mo–18mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneListens to and enjoys rhythmic patterns in rhymes and stories.Mind· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneScribbles or makes marksBody· 12mo–22mo· core· Steps 3, 4
- MilestoneBangs two objects together to make noiseMind· 4mo–12mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestonePalmar grasp on writing toolBody· 10mo–22mo· stretch
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· stretch
What it practices
- Holds an object in each hand and brings them together in the middle, e.g. holds two blocks and bangs them together.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Enjoys the sensory experience of making marks in damp sand, paste or paint.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Holds pen or crayon using a whole hand (palmar) grasp and makes random marks with different strokes.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Use feeding, changing and bathing times to share finger plays, such as ‘Round and Round the Garden’.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)