8mo–20mo8 minFamily timeFree playQuiet time
Me & You: Nose, Eyes, Fingers
A playful face-and-body pointing game where you helps your child notice ‘me’ versus ‘you’ by naming and pointing to shared body parts in a warm back-and-forth routine.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a comfortable place to sit face-to-face
- your hands (for gentle pointing/touch)
Nice to have
- a baby-safe mirror
- a soft toy or doll (optional ‘third person’)
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
- MilestoneDeveloping the ability to follow others’ body language, including pointing and gesture.Mind· 10mo–15mo· core· Step 2
- MilestonePoints to named body partsMind· 18mo–2y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneResponds to the different things said when in a familiar context with a special person (e.g. ‘Where’s Mummy?’, ‘Where’s your nose?’).Mind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 2
- MilestonePoints and gazes to share attentionHeart· 8mo–2y· core
- MilestonePlays simple back-and-forth gamesHeart· 6mo–14mo· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneResponds to a speaking personHeart· 0mo–14mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneEnjoys the company of others and seeks contact with others from birth.Heart· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneParticipates in hygiene routinesBody· 15mo–2.3y· stretch
What it practices
- Holds own bottle or cup.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Grasps finger foods and brings them to mouth.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Attempts to use spoon: can guide towards mouth but food often falls off.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Can actively cooperate with nappy changing (lies still, helps hold legs up).Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Starts to communicate urination, bowel movement.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Engages other person to help achieve a goal, e.g. to get an object out of reach.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Explores new toys and environments, but ‘checks in’ regularly with familiar adult as and when needed.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Playfully help babies to recognise that they are separate and different from others, e.g. pointing to own and baby’s nose, eyes, fingers.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)