3.3y–5y12 minActive playSocial playOutdoor
Movement Words Parade: Lead, Follow, Copy
A 40–60 month movement-and-language game where your child practises gross motor control while using movement vocabulary (gallop, slither) and instruction vocabulary (lead, follow, copy) in short, playful rounds.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a clear space indoors or outdoors
- 2–4 household ‘markers’ (cushions, shoes, or paper plates) to make a simple route
- a small soft item (sock ball or soft toy) for an optional ‘carry’ round
Nice to have
- paper and pen to draw quick stick-figure ‘move cards’
- music for a warm-up beat
- masking tape to mark a start line
Movement level: high
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneExperiments with different ways of moving.Body· 3.3y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneExtends vocabulary, especially by grouping and naming, exploring the meaning and sounds of new words.Mind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Steps 1, 3
- MilestoneNegotiates space while movingBody· 3.3y–5y· core
- MilestoneFollows ordered multi-step directionsMind· 4y–5.6y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneFollows instructions with several steps or actionsMind· 3.3y–4y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneMakes sharp turns while runningBody· 3.3y–5y· stretch
What it practices
- Experiments with different ways of moving.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Negotiates space successfully when playing racing and chasing games with other children, adjusting speed or changing direction to avoid obstacles.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows increasing control over an object in pushing, patting, throwing, catching or kicking it.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Encourage children to use the vocabulary of movement, e.g. ‘gallop’, ‘slither’; of instruction e.g. ‘follow’, ‘lead’ and ‘copy’.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)