8mo–20mo8 minFamily timeFree playQuiet time
Cup for Each Friend
A simple pretend-play routine where your child gives one cup (or spoon) to each toy, practicing one-to-one matching, early sorting, and counting talk.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 2-4 dolls or stuffed animals
- 2-4 plastic cups or small safe containers
- a small cloth or tea towel
Nice to have
- 2-4 spoons to swap in for variety
- a small bowl as the 'cup pile'
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
- MilestoneSimple pretend playMind· 14mo–2.2y· core
- MilestoneFollows visually supported instructionsMind· 8mo–18mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneUses objects functionallyMind· 10mo–15mo· stretch
- MilestoneFinds a visibly hidden objectMind· 7mo–14mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneSearches for disappeared objectMind· 6mo–12mo· core· Step 3
- MilestonePuts object into containerBody· 9mo–12mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneHelps with simple household tasksHeart· 18mo–3y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneFollows visually supported requestsMind· 12mo–15mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneCopies heard wordsMind· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneCopies sounds or wordsMind· 10mo–20mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneMatches identical objects and picturesMind· 15mo–2.5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneLooks for a dropped objectMind· 6mo–9mo· core· Step 3
What it practices
- Knows that things exist, even when out of sight.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Beginning to organise and categorise objects, e.g. putting all the teddy bears together or teddies and cars in separate piles.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Says some counting words randomly.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide resources that support children in making one-to-one correspondences, e.g. giving each dolly a cup.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)