8mo–20mo10 minFamily timeSelf-careQuiet time
Comfort Buddy Routine
A transition practice that helps your child use a familiar comfort object from home to calm and re-engage, while you set gentle boundaries about where it stays and how it comes along to new places.
What you'll need
Essentials
- your child's comfort object from home (blanket, soft toy, or cloth)
- a small bag or pouch the comfort object can travel in
- a safe cosy spot (chair, mat, or cushion)
Nice to have
- a family photo to keep in the bag
- a short familiar song
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
What it practices
- Is aware of others’ feelings, for example, looks concerned if hears crying or looks excited if hears a familiar happy voice.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Growing sense of will and determination may result in feelings of anger and frustration which are difficult to handle, e.g. may have tantrums.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Responds to a few appropriate boundaries, with encouragement and support.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Begins to learn that some things are theirs, some things are shared, and some things belong to other people.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Ensure that children can use their comfort objects from home when in the setting.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)