0mo–11mo8 minSocial playDevelopmental playFamily time
Offer, Take, and Track
A playful give-and-take game using a small baby-safe toy to encourage reaching, grasping, and tracking a moving object while staying calm and engaged.
What you'll need
Essentials
- soft blanket or towel on the floor
- a small baby-safe toy you already have at home (e.g., soft rattle or large teething ring)
Nice to have
- lightweight scarf (to hide/reveal the toy briefly)
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
- MilestoneTracks a moving object across midlineBody· 2mo–5mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneEarly visual trackingBody· 0mo–2mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneReaches accurately and graspsBody· 3mo–6mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· core· Steps 2, 4
- MilestoneHolds placed toy or rattleBody· 2mo–6mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneSustains visual attention brieflyMind· 1mo–4mo· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneNotices small objectMind· 3mo–6mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneGestures wants or needsMind· 10mo–2.3y· stretch· Step 4
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Play games, such as offering a small toy and taking it again to rattle, or sail through the air.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)