2.5y–4.2y12 minFree playStory timeSocial play
Community Helper Meet-and-Greet
A role-play and reflection routine that helps your child build positive relationships with community members (e.g., firefighters) through greetings, questions, and respectful listening.
What you'll need
Essentials
- paper and crayons or a pencil
- 2–4 toys/figures or drawn ‘helper’ characters (stick figures are fine)
Nice to have
- a small box or cushion to pretend it’s a ‘vehicle’
- a phone for a quick photo or voice note (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
- MilestoneBack and forth conversationMind· 2.3y–3y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneRetells Recent or Past EventsMind· 2.3y–3.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneUses basic time conceptsMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneAsks Wh-QuestionsMind· 2.3y–3.2y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneListens to others one to one or in small groups, when conversation interests them.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· core
- MilestoneTalks About Past and Future EventsMind· 2.5y–3y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneCaptures experiences and responses with a range of media, such as music, dance and paint and other materials or words.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneUses three- to five-word sentencesMind· 2y–4y· core· Steps 1, 4
- MilestoneSays own first nameMind· 2.8y–3y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneExpresses feelings through words or actionsHeart· 22mo–3y· stretch· Step 4
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)