2.5y–4.2y12 minFree playDevelopmental playFamily time
Real-World Writing: Shop, List & Label
A short pretend-play ‘shop’ where you expect your child to use their grapheme/phoneme knowledge to write for real purposes (labels, a list, a message), with supportive scaffolding rather than correct spelling demands.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 3–6 household items for a pretend shop (e.g., spoon, sock, box, toy)
- paper or a small notepad
- marker/crayon or pencil
Nice to have
- a small bag (for ‘shopping’)
- sticky notes (for price tags/labels)
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
- MilestoneForms recognisable letters independentlyMind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Steps 2, 4
- MilestoneGives meaning to own drawings or marksMind· 2.8y–3.8y· stretch
- MilestoneUses mark-making toolsBody· 22mo–2.8y· core· Steps 2, 4
- MilestoneNames lettersMind· 3.3y–5y· stretch
- MilestoneDistinguishes between the different marks they make.Mind· 22mo–3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneWrites name-related lettersMind· 3.3y–5y· core
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Expect them to apply their own grapheme/phoneme knowledge to what they write in meaningful contexts.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)