0mo–11mo8 minDevelopmental playTummy timeFamily time
Rattle & Return: Little Toy Flight
A gentle back-and-forth game where you offer a safe toy, briefly take it back to rattle or ‘fly’, and offer it again—supporting your child’s looking, reaching, grasping, mouthing/exploration, and early body control with close supervision.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a clean, baby-safe soft toy or rattle (no small parts)
- a comfortable floor space or play mat
- a cloth for wiping drool/spit-up
Nice to have
- a second safe toy for variety
- a cushion for supported sitting (if appropriate)
- a baby-safe mirror placed at a safe distance
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
- MilestoneReaches accurately and graspsBody· 3mo–6mo· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· core
- MilestoneTracks a moving object across midlineBody· 2mo–5mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneExplores objects through the sensesBody· 0mo–11mo· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneEarly visual trackingBody· 0mo–2mo· core· Steps 1, 2
- MilestoneExplores objects by mouthingBody· 4mo–8mo· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneExplores objects by linking together different approaches: shaking, hitting, looking, feeling, tasting, mouthing, pulling, turning and poking.Body· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneKeeps head steadyBody· 5mo–10mo· stretch
- MilestoneHolds one object in each handBody· 4mo–10mo· stretch
What it practices
- Gradually develops ability to hold up own head.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Watches and explores hands and feet, e.g. when lying on back lifts legs into vertical position and grasps feet.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Reaches out for, touches and begins to hold objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Explores objects with mouth, often picking up an object and holding it to the mouth.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Play games, such as offering a small toy and taking it again to rattle, or sail through the air.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)