8mo–20mo9 minStory timeFree playActive play
Move-Story Adventure: Crawl, Cruise, Step
A short, playful story you tell while your child moves in different ways (roll, crawl, cruise, step), building body awareness and confidence through simple movement words.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a clear floor space (carpet/grass is ideal)
- 2 cushions or folded towels (as ‘places’ in the story)
- one larger safe toy or soft ball (the ‘story friend’ to travel to)
Nice to have
- a small blanket (for a ‘tunnel’ drape over your legs)
- a low, stable sofa edge (for cruising with close supervision)
Movement level: mild
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneCrawls or scoots for floor mobilityBody· 7mo–12mo· core
- MilestoneWhen sitting, can lean forward to pick up small toys.Body· 8mo–20mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneCruises along furnitureBody· 10mo–15mo· core
- MilestoneTakes first independent stepsBody· 12mo–15mo· stretch
- MilestoneWalks independentlyBody· 15mo–20mo· core
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneRolls over independentlyBody· 5mo–10mo· stretch
- MilestoneUnderstands no or prohibitive wordsMind· 9mo–18mo· core· Step 2
What it practices
- Sits unsupported on the floor.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- When sitting, can lean forward to pick up small toys.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Crawls, bottom shuffles or rolls continuously to move around.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Walks around furniture lifting one foot and stepping sideways (cruising), and walks with one or both hands held by adult.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Takes first few steps independently.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Tell stories that encourage children to think about the way they move.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)