2.5y–4.2y12 minArtChore timeFree play
Mix & See: Media Mash-Up
Support the adult to talk with your child about experimenting with different media and noticing what happens when materials are combined, using safe household alternatives and simple prediction/observation talk.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a tray or shallow bowl
- one wet medium: paint OR water with a drop of food colouring
- one dry medium: sand OR soil OR uncooked rice
- a spoon or stick for stirring
Nice to have
- flour or cornflour (as a safe stand-in for ‘sawdust’ textures)
- paper for printing/pressing marks
- an old shirt/apron
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
- MilestoneUnderstands that different media can be combined to create new effects.Mind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Steps 1, 4
- MilestoneExperiments to create different textures.Mind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· core
- MilestoneUses simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.Body· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneUses mark-making toolsBody· 22mo–2.8y· core· Step 4
- MilestonePours or serves food or drink with supervisionBody· 3y–5y· stretch· Step 1
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Talk to children about ways of finding out what they can do with different media and what happens when they put different things together such as sand, paint and sawdust.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)