16mo–2.2y10 minReadingStory timeFamily timeQuiet time
Flap-and-Find Book Surprise
A playful shared-reading activity using picture books (including flaps/hidden surprises) to support joining in, anticipation and talking about what’s happening.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 1-2 picture books (a flap/hidden-word book if available)
- comfortable place to sit together
Nice to have
- homemade 'flap page' (a magazine picture taped with a paper flap)
- phone/tablet or CD audio that matches a story or rhyme
- a small bag to hold the book and a prop (mini story sack)
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneCompletes Familiar Story or Rhyme PhrasesMind· 20mo–2.7y· stretch
- MilestoneAnticipates repeated sounds, sights and actions, e.g. when an adult demonstrates an action toy several times.Mind· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneAttends to Shared Book ReadingMind· 18mo–2.7y· core
- MilestoneShows interest in play with sounds, songs and rhymes.Mind· 16mo–2.2y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneShows interest in toys with buttons, flaps and simple mechanisms and beginning to learn to operate them.Mind· 8mo–20mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneExpresses own preferences and interests.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneCopies familiar phrasesMind· 12mo–23mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneGestures wants or needsMind· 10mo–2.3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneUnderstands simple questionsMind· 14mo–2.2y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneUnderstands simple spoken instructionsMind· 14mo–18mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneSingle channelled attention. Can shift to a different task if attention fully obtained – using child’s name helps focus.Mind· 16mo–2.2y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneHelps with simple household tasksHeart· 18mo–3y· core· Step 4
What it practices
- Interested in books and rhymes and may have favourites.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Repeats words or phrases from familiar stories.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Fills in the missing word or phrase in a known rhyme, story or game, e.g. ‘Humpty Dumpty sat on a …’.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide picture books, books with flaps or hidden words, books with accompanying CDs and story sacks.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)