2.5y–4.2y12 minFamily timeFree playQuiet time
Home & Community Show-and-Tell Chat
A short, child-led conversation game where you helps your child talk about their home and community routines, then practise finding out about someone else’s experiences (using toys, photos, or family members).
What you'll need
Essentials
- 3 everyday objects from home (e.g., spoon, key, small towel, toy car)
- paper and a pencil/crayon
Nice to have
- 2–4 photos of places you go (park, shop, bus stop, place of worship, library)
- a small toy/soft toy to be the 'other child' for question practice
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
- MilestoneConfident to talk to other children when playing, and will communicate freely about own home and community.Heart· 2.5y–4.2y· core
- MilestoneUses talk to organise, sequence and clarify thinking, ideas, feelings and events.Mind· 3.3y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneRetells Recent or Past EventsMind· 2.3y–3.2y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneExplains object functionsMind· 2.5y–2.8y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneAsks Wh-QuestionsMind· 2.3y–3.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneAnswers simple open questionsMind· 2.3y–3.3y· core· Steps 1, 2
- MilestoneIndependent connected storytellingMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneKnows some of the things that make them unique, and can talk about some of the similarities and differences in relation to friends or family.Heart· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch
What it practices
- Shows interest in the lives of people who are familiar to them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Remembers and talks about significant events in their own experience.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Knows some of the things that make them unique, and can talk about some of the similarities and differences in relation to friends or family.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Recognises and describes special times or events for family or friends.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Encourage children to talk about their own home and community life, and to find out about other children’s experiences.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)