0mo–11mo10 minFree playBath timeMealtime
Shake, Pause, Shake!
A simple cause-and-effect play routine where your child repeats an action (shake, kick, bang) to make something happen again and watches/listens for the result.
What you'll need
Essentials
- one baby-safe sound or movement toy (e.g., rattle, crinkly cloth, or a soft hanging toy)
- a safe place for play (play mat/blanket or highchair with supervision)
Nice to have
- a soft mobile or kick toy (if you have one)
- a wooden/plastic spoon and a sturdy tray/table surface (for supervised banging)
- a small bath toy that splashes (for bath time)
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
What it practices
- Repeats actions that have an effect, e.g. kicking or hitting a mobile or shaking a rattle.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- The beginnings of understanding technology lie in babies exploring and making sense of objects and how they behave.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Looks around a room with interest; visually scans environment for novel, interesting objects and events.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE) — construct-derived activity authored from enriched DM2012 construct