8mo–20mo12 minOutdoorFree playActive play
Push & Steer Pathway Play
A short indoor/outdoor pushing game using a push-toy or any safe ‘pushable’ object to practise standing support, gripping/steering, and controlled movement with lots of pauses and praise.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a clear, safe space indoors or outdoors
- a push-along toy (or a toy stroller, small push cart, or empty laundry basket to push)
- 2–3 soft obstacles/markers (pillows, boxes, or tape lines)
- non-slip socks or bare feet (indoors) as appropriate
Nice to have
- a favorite soft toy to ‘deliver’ on the push-toy
- masking tape or chalk to draw a simple path
- a towel for outdoor wipe-down
Movement level: mild
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
What it practices
- Pulls to standing, holding on to furniture or person for support.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Holds an object in each hand and brings them together in the middle, e.g. holds two blocks and bangs them together.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Picks up small objects between thumb and fingers.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide push-along toys and trundle trikes indoors and out.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)