2.5y–4.2y11 minSocial playFree playFamily time
Community Helper Hello Practice
A friendly role-play and conversation routine that helps your child build positive relationships with community members (e.g., fire fighters visiting the setting) by practising greetings, questions, and gratitude.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a soft toy or doll to be the 'visitor'
- paper and a crayon/pencil
Nice to have
- a toy vehicle (or a small box to be a 'truck')
- a scarf/hat to be a simple costume prop
- 2–3 photos or a book picture of community helpers (optional)
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
- MilestoneDemonstrates friendly behaviour, initiating conversations and forming good relationships with peers and familiar adults.Heart· 2.5y–4.2y· core
- MilestoneExplains own knowledge and understanding, and asks appropriate questions of others.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch
- MilestoneListens to others one to one or in small groups, when conversation interests them.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneAsks Wh-QuestionsMind· 2.3y–3.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneAdjusts to stated expectationsHeart· 2.5y–3.7y· stretch
- MilestonePretends with imagined roles or thingsMind· 2y–3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneUses three- to five-word sentencesMind· 2y–4y· core· Steps 3, 4
- MilestoneCoordinates gesture with another signalMind· 9mo–2.5y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneLonger sentencesMind· 3.3y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneUses self pronouns earlyMind· 2y–2.5y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneCombines two wordsMind· 14mo–3y· core· Step 4
What it practices
- Shows interest in different occupations and ways of life.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows interest in the lives of people who are familiar to them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Knows some of the things that make them unique, and can talk about some of the similarities and differences in relation to friends or family.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Encourage children to develop positive relationships with community members, such as fire fighters who visit the setting”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)