22mo–3y12 minFree playArtFamily time
Roads & Picnic Paths: Build, Draw, Travel
A 22–36 month role-play pathway game where your child helps create a simple road/picnic route, adds road marks (lines/circles), and practises safe step up/down travel—linking pretend play with tripod grip, shape imitation, and confident movement.
What you'll need
Essentials
- masking tape or a scarf/string (to make a simple ‘road’ line)
- paper (one or two sheets)
- chunky crayons or washable markers
- a small bag/container for ‘picnic food’ (toy food or safe household items)
- a picnic blanket/towel
- a safe low step or bottom stair and an adult hand/rail to hold
Nice to have
- toy cars or small figures for the road layout
- stickers (for ‘road signs’)
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
- MilestoneProduces controlled varied strokesBody· 2y–3y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneCopies a circleBody· 2.2y–4.2y· core
- MilestoneUses symbolic substitution (objects and words) in playMind· 20mo–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneUses mark-making toolsBody· 22mo–2.8y· core
- MilestonePretends with imagined roles or thingsMind· 2y–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneSimple pretend playMind· 14mo–2.2y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneWalks upstairs with supportBody· 18mo–2.3y· stretch
- MilestoneDescends with adult helpBody· 2y–3y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneUses finger-thumb pencil graspBody· 2.8y–4y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneDescends using a railBody· 2y–2.5y· stretch
- MilestoneReceptive spatial-word understandingMind· 2.7y–3.2y· stretch· Step 3
What it practices
- Beginning to use three fingers (tripod grip) to hold writing toolsObservable behaviour from Development Matters
- Imitates drawing simple shapes such as circles and lines.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Walks upstairs or downstairs holding onto a rail two feet to a step.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide real and role-play opportunities for children to create pathways, e.g. road layouts, or going on a picnic.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)