22mo–3y12 minFree playSocial playOutdoor
Roads & Picnics Pathway Adventure
A 22–36 month pretend-play pathway build where your child helps create routes (roads and picnic paths), then travels along them—over, around, and through simple obstacles—to practise movement planning and safer navigation in space.
What you'll need
Essentials
- masking tape or 2 scarves (to make ‘roads’/path lines)
- 2–4 cushions (to make ‘hills’, ‘rocks’, or ‘puddles’)
- a small basket/box (as the ‘picnic basket’)
- 2–4 lightweight household items (plastic cups, socks, or soft toys) as ‘picnic food’
Nice to have
- toy cars (optional) or a small box as a ‘bus’
- paper and crayon to draw a simple ‘map’
- a towel as a ‘bridge’
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
- MilestoneFollows adult safety guidanceHeart· 2.5y–4y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneReceptive spatial-word understandingMind· 2.7y–3.2y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneFollows two spoken directionsMind· 16mo–2.3y· stretch· Steps 2, 3
- MilestoneBuilds with non-block construction piecesBody· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneUses symbolic substitution (objects and words) in playMind· 20mo–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneExpresses own preferences and interests.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneHelps with simple household tasksHeart· 18mo–3y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneRunsBody· 14mo–2.2y· core
What it practices
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)