—15 minSocial playFamily timeWith other children
Plan, Swap, and Care
A cooperative play mini-session where children practise turn-taking, using each other's ideas to organise play, and pausing to notice feelings and solve small conflicts.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a shared set of building/pretend-play materials (blocks, LEGO, recycled boxes, toy animals/people)
- two small 'turn tokens' (e.g., spoons, cards, socks)
- a simple timer (phone/kitchen timer) OR a counting rule (count to 10)
Nice to have
- paper and pen for a quick plan sketch
- a drawn 'feelings face' card (happy/sad/angry/worried) to support naming feelings
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
- MilestoneCooperative peer playHeart· 2.7y–3.8y· stretch
- MilestoneCooperative turn-taking play with peersHeart· 4y–5y· core
- MilestoneNegotiates peer conflictsHeart· 4y–5y· core
- MilestoneWaits for needs or turnsHeart· 2.5y–5y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneSelects appropriate resources and adapts work where necessary.Mind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneTakes turns in simple games with adult supportHeart· 20mo–3.3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneDemonstrates friendly behaviour, initiating conversations and forming good relationships with peers and familiar adults.Heart· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 1
What it practices
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