2.5y–4.2y12 minStory timeMusicFamily time
Refrain & Reply: Storydance Turns
A lively story-and-song routine where your child joins repeated refrains, uses pointing/actions, and practises reply-and-wait turn-taking in call-and-response songs.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a short favourite story or picture book with a repeated line (or 3–5 family photos you can make into a simple ‘photo story’)
- a small clear space for a few simple actions (clap, point, turn)
Nice to have
- a scarf/tea towel for gentle action moves (wave, hide/reveal)
- a soft toy to be the ‘listener’ or ‘caller’ in turn-taking songs
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
- MilestoneListens and joins inMind· 2.3y–3.3y· core
- MilestoneCompletes Familiar Story or Rhyme PhrasesMind· 20mo–2.7y· stretch
- MilestoneWaits for needs or turnsHeart· 2.5y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneAnticipates familiar story eventsMind· 2.5y–4.2y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneCopies movements to musicBody· 18mo–3.3y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneStays focused during activityMind· 2.5y–3y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneCopies a tapping patternMind· 2.8y–3y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneSustains back-and-forth conversationMind· 3.3y–5y· core
- MilestoneExpresses own preferences and interests.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 4
What it practices
- Listens to stories with increasing attention and recall.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Joins in with repeated refrains and anticipates key events and phrases in rhymes and stories.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Focusing attention – still listen or do, but can shift own attention.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Choose stories with repeated refrains, dances and action songs involving looking and pointing, and songs that require replies and turn-taking such as ‘Tommy Thumb’.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)