8mo–20mo8 minBath timeFree playFamily time
Full, Empty, Holds More
During water or sand play, the adult narrates and prompts with simple words (full/empty/more) while your child fills, pours, empties, and compares two containers.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 2 small containers/cups (plastic is ideal)
- a spoon or scoop
Nice to have
- water (sink/bath) OR sand (outdoor/sensory tray) OR dry rice/pasta
- a towel
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 3-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Talk to children, as they play with water or sand, to encourage them to think about when something is full, empty or holds more.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)