0mo–11mo10 minMusicFamily timeMealtime
Sing & Pause: Baby Join-In Songs
A simple singing routine where you plans a short sing-along moment with your child, using pauses, echoing, and gentle repetition to encourage early joining-in through sounds, looks, and movement.
What you'll need
Essentials
- your voice
- a comfortable, safe place to hold or sit with your child
Nice to have
- a soft cloth or scarf for gentle swaying
- a simple household sound-maker held by an adult (e.g., keys in an adult hand or a sealed container with dry pasta)
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
- MilestoneVocalizes back during interactionHeart· 2mo–8mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestonePlays simple back-and-forth gamesHeart· 6mo–14mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneListens to familiar sounds, words, or finger plays.Mind· 0mo–11mo· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneResponds to a speaking personHeart· 0mo–14mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneAlerts or calms to speechMind· 0mo–4mo· core
- MilestoneLooks at a speaking caregiverMind· 1mo–6mo· core
- MilestoneChildren’s later writing is based on skills and understandings which they develop as babies and toddlers. Before they can write, they need to learn to use spoken language to communicate. Later they learn to write down the words they can say. (See the roots of Writing in Communication and language).Mind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneTurns toward and locates a soundMind· 1mo–11mo· stretch
- MilestoneResponds to own nameMind· 6mo–10mo· stretch
What it practices
- Listens to, distinguishes and responds to intonations and sounds of voices.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Turns toward a familiar sound then locates range of sounds with accuracy.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Reacts in interaction with others by smiling, looking and moving.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Quietens or alerts to the sound of speech.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Plan times when you can sing with young babies, encouraging them to join in.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)