8mo–20mo8 minFree playFamily time
Push, Pull, Press Parade
A supervised cause-and-effect play session where your child explores safe household objects by pushing, pulling, lifting, and pressing, while you narrate their investigation and notice repeated actions and anticipation.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 2–3 safe, robust objects with simple mechanisms (e.g., a board book, a lidded plastic container, a sturdy push-button toy)
Nice to have
- a soft cloth or scarf
- a small ball or soft toy
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
- MilestoneExperiments with object actionsMind· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Steps 1, 3
- MilestoneShows interest in toys with buttons, flaps and simple mechanisms and beginning to learn to operate them.Mind· 8mo–20mo· core
- MilestoneAnticipates repeated sounds, sights and actions, e.g. when an adult demonstrates an action toy several times.Mind· 8mo–20mo· stretch
- MilestoneExplores objects by linking together different approaches: shaking, hitting, looking, feeling, tasting, mouthing, pulling, turning and poking.Body· 8mo–20mo· core
- MilestoneActs from knowledge of propertiesMind· 16mo–2.3y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneOperates mechanical toys, e.g. turns the knob on a wind-up toy or pulls back on a friction car.Mind· 16mo–2.2y· stretch· Steps 1, 3
- MilestoneLooks for a dropped objectMind· 6mo–9mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneSearches for disappeared objectMind· 6mo–12mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneReacts to disappearanceMind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 4
What it practices
- Shows interest in toys with buttons, flaps and simple mechanisms and beginning to learn to operate them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Anticipates repeated sounds, sights and actions, e.g. when an adult demonstrates an action toy several times.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Looks for dropped objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Comment on the ways in which young children investigate how to push, pull, lift or press parts of toys and domestic equipment.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)