22mo–3y10 minArtFree playOutdoor
Mark-Maker Toolbox: Indoors & Outdoors
A 22–36 month ‘tool box’ mark-making exploration where your child chooses different mark tools indoors or outdoors, practises lines and circles, and adds a safe step-up/step-down delivery game—supporting tripod grip development, shape imitation, and confident movement.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a small box or basket (the ‘tool box’)
- paper (or cardboard from a box)
- chunky crayons or washable markers
- one alternative mark tool (paintbrush + water, sponge, chalk outdoors, or a cotton bud)
- a wipeable surface or towel under the paper
- a safe low step or bottom stair and an adult hand/rail to hold
Nice to have
- masking tape to secure paper
- a clipboard or tray for outdoor mark making
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
- MilestoneUses mark-making toolsBody· 22mo–2.8y· core
- MilestoneProduces controlled varied strokesBody· 2y–3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneCopies a circleBody· 2.2y–4.2y· core
- MilestoneUses finger-thumb pencil graspBody· 2.8y–4y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneDescends with adult helpBody· 2y–3y· stretch
- MilestoneWalks upstairs with supportBody· 18mo–2.3y· stretch
- MilestoneClimbs stairs with helpBody· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 4
What it practices
- Beginning to use three fingers (tripod grip) to hold writing toolsObservable behaviour from Development Matters
- Imitates drawing simple shapes such as circles and lines.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Walks upstairs or downstairs holding onto a rail two feet to a step.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide ‘tool boxes’ containing things that make marks, so that children can explore their use both indoors and outdoors.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)