2.5y–4.2y10 minFamily timeQuiet timeDevelopmental play
Family Fact Finder
Use your family knowledge to spark a real question, then extend your child’s world with a quick look-up, a photo/story link, and a simple follow-up talk-and-play task.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 1–2 familiar family photos or objects linked to a real place/experience (paper photo, postcard, packaging, souvenir, ticket)
- paper and a pencil/crayon
Nice to have
- a phone/tablet/computer (for pictures, maps, or short clips)
- a few small toys or blocks (for quick follow-up play)
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
- MilestoneExplains own knowledge and understanding, and asks appropriate questions of others.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· core
- 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
- MilestoneAsks Wh-QuestionsMind· 2.3y–3.2y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneCreate simple representations of events, people and objects.Mind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneActivates buttons and switchesBody· 2y–2.5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneListens to others one to one or in small groups, when conversation interests them.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch
- MilestoneShows skill in making toys work by pressing parts or lifting flaps to achieve effects such as sound, movements or new images.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneExpresses own preferences and interests.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneShows object-function knowledgeMind· 2.7y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneShows confidence in asking adults for help.Heart· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch
What it practices
- Knows how to operate simple equipment, e.g. turns on CD player and uses remote control.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Knows that information can be retrieved from computersObservable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows an interest in technological toys with knobs or pulleys, or real objects such as cameras or mobile phones.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows skill in making toys work by pressing parts or lifting flaps to achieve effects such as sound, movements or new images.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Use parents’ knowledge to extend children’s experiences of the world.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)