2.5y–4.2y10 minSocial playFree playFamily time
Hello Mix-Up Mini-Play
A short activity that helps your child practise greeting and playing with a wider range of people (or ‘everyone in the group’) through simple invitations, questions, and turn-taking play.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 4-8 small toys/figures (or paper ‘name cards’ for family/class members)
Nice to have
- a small ball or rolled-up socks
- a bowl or cup to draw names from
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
- MilestoneDemonstrates friendly behaviour, initiating conversations and forming good relationships with peers and familiar adults.Heart· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Steps 1, 2, 3, 4
- MilestoneIs more outgoing towards unfamiliar people and more confident in new social situations.Heart· 22mo–3y· stretch· Steps 1, 4
- MilestoneSeeks play with other childrenHeart· 3y–4y· stretch
- MilestoneBack and forth conversationMind· 2.3y–3y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneCooperative peer playHeart· 2.7y–3.8y· stretch
- MilestoneSeeks out others to share experiences.Heart· 14mo–2.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneListens to others one to one or in small groups, when conversation interests them.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneJoins other children in playHeart· 2.3y–3.2y· core
What it practices
- Initiates play, offering cues to peers to join them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Demonstrates friendly behaviour, initiating conversations and forming good relationships with peers and familiar adults.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Initiates conversations, attends to and takes account of what others say.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Keeps play going by responding to what others are saying or doing.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Ensure that children have opportunities over time to get to know everyone in the group, not just their special friends.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)