2.5y–4.2y11 minStory timeFamily timeFree play
Shared Adventure Re-enact
Use a shared recent experience (a walk, snack, cooking, or a story) and simple props to help your child reflect, sequence events, and respond to questions about what happened.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 3 household props linked to a shared experience (e.g., spoon, cup, scarf, leaf, toy)
- a soft toy or doll
- a small blanket or cloth (optional stage/scene)
Nice to have
- a photo from your phone of the experience
- paper and crayons for drawing one picture
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
- MilestoneOrders a complete familiar sequenceMind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneTalks About Past and Future EventsMind· 2.5y–3y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneAttends and recallsMind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch
- MilestoneAnswers simple open questionsMind· 2.3y–3.3y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneAnswers questions about a storyMind· 4y–6y· core
- MilestoneListens and joins inMind· 2.3y–3.3y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneStays focused during activityMind· 2.5y–3y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneExplains causesMind· 3.8y–4.6y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneCompletes Familiar Story or Rhyme PhrasesMind· 20mo–2.7y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneFollows instructions with several steps or actionsMind· 3.3y–4y· stretch
What it practices
- Listens to stories with increasing attention and recall.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Listens to others one to one or in small groups, when conversation interests them.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
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Set up shared experiences that children can reflect upon, e.g. visits, cooking, or stories that can be re-enacted.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)