2.5y–4.2y10 minFree playFamily time
Silly Fit-or-Not Box Questions
A light, humorous ‘will it fit?’ game where you asks your child silly questions about putting big things in tiny containers, encouraging prediction, size language, and positional words like ‘in’ and ‘inside’.
What you'll need
Essentials
- one tiny container (e.g., small box, small cup, or small tub)
- one bigger container (e.g., larger box or bowl)
- 5–8 safe household objects of different sizes (e.g., spoon, sock, book, toy car, soft toy)
Nice to have
- a sheet of paper (to make a quick ‘fits’ and ‘does not fit’ sorting area)
- a small cloth (to hide an object briefly for a ‘surprise’ reveal)
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
- MilestoneDiscriminates bigger and smallerMind· 2.2y–3y· core
- MilestoneSorts Objects by AttributeMind· 2.3y–3.2y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneReceptive spatial-word understandingMind· 2.7y–3.2y· core
- MilestoneUnderstands jokes and humorous languageMind· 3y–5y· stretch
- MilestoneBegins to identify own mathematical problems based on own interests and fascinations.Mind· 3.3y–5y· core· Steps 3, 4
- MilestoneGroups category membersMind· 2y–3y· core· Step 3
What it practices
- Uses positional language.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows an interest in shape and space by playing with shapes or making arrangements with objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows interest in shape by sustained construction activity or by talking about shapes or arrangements.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows awareness of similarities of shapes in the environment.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Ask ‘silly’ questions, e.g. show a tiny box and ask if there is a bicycle in it.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)