8mo–20mo12 minActive playFree play
Cushion Course: Tunnel, Slope, Step
A simple, safe obstacle course using household cushions and boxes so your child can crawl, climb, cruise, and practise early steps in a playful challenge.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a clear floor area
- 2–4 sofa cushions or pillows
- a large cardboard box (or two chairs with a blanket draped to make a tunnel)
- a low, stable step option (a thick cushion, low footstool, or a sturdy stack of flat books covered with a towel)
Nice to have
- a soft toy to ‘travel to’ at each station
- a rolled towel to make a small ‘ridge’ to crawl over
Movement level: mild
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
- Crawls, bottom shuffles or rolls continuously to move around.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Walks around furniture lifting one foot and stepping sideways (cruising), and walks with one or both hands held by adult.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Takes first few steps independently.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide tunnels, slopes and low-level steps to stimulate and challenge toddlers.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)