22mo–3y12 minArtFree play
Mix-It Studio: Add, Combine, Explore
Support the adult to encourage your child’s inventive mixing of media by offering a small ‘menu’ of materials, following your child’s lead, and valuing deep sensory engagement (‘wallowing’) without rushing to a finished product.
What you'll need
Essentials
- paper/cardboard
- one mark-maker (crayon/pencil) AND one add-on (tape OR stickers OR torn paper)
Nice to have
- safe ‘texture bits’ (foil, fabric scrap, tissue paper)
- a small bowl of water and a cloth for quick clean-up
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
- MilestoneExpresses own preferences and interests.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneCan select and use activities and resources with help.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneBuilds a tall tower of 6 or more blocksBody· 2.3y–3.2y· stretch
- MilestoneBuilds with non-block construction piecesBody· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 2
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Encourage and support the inventive ways in which children add, or mix media, or wallow in a particular experience.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)