8mo–20mo10 minMealtimeFree playFamily time
One-Word Power Pauses
Create a few predictable pause-and-wait moments in daily routines so your child has a reason to use single words to label, request, or protest with familiar adults.
What you'll need
Essentials
- one favourite snack or drink
- 2-3 familiar toys or everyday objects (e.g., ball, book, cup)
Nice to have
- a small container with a lid (for "open"/"out")
- a family photo on your phone (for a name word)
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneUses single meaningful wordsMind· 8mo–20mo· core
- MilestoneNames familiar referentsMind· 15mo–2.3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneCopies sounds or wordsMind· 10mo–20mo· stretch
- MilestoneUnderstands simple questionsMind· 14mo–2.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneCoordinates gesture with another signalMind· 9mo–2.5y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneDemonstrates sense of self as an individual, e.g. wants to do things independently, says “No” to adult.Heart· 16mo–2.2y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneDevelops own likes and dislikes in food and drink.Heart· 16mo–2.2y· stretch· Step 4
What it practices
- Uses single words.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Enjoys babbling and increasingly experiments with using sounds and words to communicate for a range of purposes (e.g. teddy, more, no, bye-bye.)Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses different types of everyday words (nouns, verbs and adjectives, e.g. banana, go, sleep, hot).Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE) — construct-derived activity authored from enriched DM2012 construct