8mo–20mo10 minFamily timeSelf-careDevelopmental play
Numbers Everywhere: Share and Try
A short ‘show and try’ routine to help families notice how your child learns number ideas in everyday moments, with prompts to use interpreter support or translated/home-language words so everyone understands the number talk.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 3–5 everyday items from home/setting (spoons, shoes, blocks, socks, soft toys)
- one small bag/box/container
Nice to have
- a note card/phone notes to write key number words in home language and English
- a simple picture book or magazine page with lots of objects in a picture
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 simple spoken instructionsMind· 14mo–18mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneTakes object from containerBody· 10mo–13mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneSupported routine participationMind· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneFollows unsupported spoken requestsMind· 12mo–15mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneHelps with simple household tasksHeart· 18mo–3y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneResponds to a speaking personHeart· 0mo–14mo· core· Steps 1, 3
- MilestoneCopies simple gestures or actionsMind· 6mo–2.3y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneCopies sounds or wordsMind· 10mo–20mo· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneMatches identical objects and picturesMind· 15mo–2.5y· stretch· Step 4
What it practices
- Beginning to organise and categorise objects, e.g. putting all the teddy bears together or teddies and cars in separate piles.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Says some counting words randomly.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Knows that things exist, even when out of sight.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Tell parents about all the ways children learn about numbers in your setting. Have interpreter support or translated materials to support children and families learning English as an additional language”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)