0mo–11mo12 minFree playFamily time
Sensory Chat Space: Invite Baby Responses
A simple, safe sensory setup where you offers your child a few household objects to touch, smell, feel, and listen to, narrating gently and pausing for responses to build early attention and interaction.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a soft blanket or mat for a safe play spot
- 3–5 safe household objects with different textures (e.g., soft cloth, sponge, wooden spoon, large plastic lid) (adult supervised)
- one gentle sound source (e.g., paper to crinkle in an adult hand or keys in an adult hand)
Nice to have
- a safe scent item held by an adult (e.g., orange peel on a cloth) (avoid if sensitive)
- a small mirror (only if safe and supervised)
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
- MilestoneResponds to a speaking personHeart· 0mo–14mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneExplores objects through the sensesBody· 0mo–11mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestonePlays simple back-and-forth gamesHeart· 6mo–14mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneLearns that own voice and actions have effects on others.Heart· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneExplores or responds to texturesBody· 6mo–12mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneTurns toward and locates a soundMind· 1mo–11mo· stretch
- MilestoneLooks at a speaking caregiverMind· 1mo–6mo· core
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneTakes turns making soundsHeart· 4mo–8mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneReciprocal social smileHeart· 1mo–4mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneAlerts or calms to speechMind· 0mo–4mo· core
- MilestoneExplores objects by linking together different approaches: shaking, hitting, looking, feeling, tasting, mouthing, pulling, turning and poking.Body· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneNotices changes in number of objects/images or sounds in group of up to 3.Mind· 0mo–11mo· stretch· Step 3
What it practices
- Reacts in interaction with others by smiling, looking and moving.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Looks intently at a person talking, but stops responding if speaker turns away.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Turns toward a familiar sound then locates range of sounds with accuracy.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Listens to, distinguishes and responds to intonations and sounds of voices.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Create an environment which invites responses from babies and adults, for example, touching, smiling, smelling, feeling, listening, exploring, describing and sharing.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)