2.5y–4.2y12 minStory timeSocial playFamily time
Puppet Friendship Feelings
A short story-and-role-play activity using books/puppets/dolls to explore friendship feelings and practise inclusive language when someone says “You can’t play”.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a favourite picture book (or any short story you can tell)
- 2 puppets/dolls/teddies (or 2 small toys)
Nice to have
- paper and crayons
- a small blanket or cushion to make a ‘story corner’
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
- MilestoneJoins other children in playHeart· 2.3y–3.2y· core
- MilestoneResponds helpfully to needsHeart· 2.4y–3y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneNegotiates peer conflictsHeart· 4y–5y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneDevelops a shared storylineMind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneSustains back-and-forth conversationMind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneCooperative peer playHeart· 2.7y–3.8y· core
- MilestoneCreates pretend small world stories with toysMind· 3y–4y· core· Steps 2, 4
- MilestoneEnacts a pretend roleMind· 3y–5y· core· Step 2
- MilestonePretends with imagined roles or thingsMind· 2y–3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneSeeks play with other childrenHeart· 3y–4y· stretch
- MilestoneInvites others into pretend playHeart· 2.5y–3y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneAnswers story questionsMind· 2.1y–3.1y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneShows nonverbal story understandingMind· 3y–5y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneAnswers questions about a storyMind· 4y–6y· core· Step 1
What it practices
- Initiates conversations, attends to and takes account of what others say.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Demonstrates friendly behaviour, initiating conversations and forming good relationships with peers and familiar adults.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Keeps play going by responding to what others are saying or doing.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Can play in a group, extending and elaborating play ideas, e.g. building up a role-play activity with other children.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Choose books, puppets and dolls that help children explore their ideas about friends and friendship and to talk about feelings, e.g. someone saying ‘You can’t play’.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)