22mo–3y12 minMusicFree play
Sound & Rhythm Spotters
A quick, home-based sound play routine where your child listens, copies, and talks about different sounds, patterns, and rhythms using everyday objects.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 3 sound-making household items (e.g., keys, wooden spoon, plastic cup, paper)
- a table, floor, or tray to tap on
Nice to have
- a small container to hide an item (e.g., bowl or bag)
- a phone timer
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
- MilestoneCopies a tapping patternMind· 2.8y–3y· core· Steps 2, 3
- MilestoneNames referents from soundsMind· 23mo–2.9y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneRecognizes familiar environmental soundsMind· 12mo–2y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneProduces a simple rhythmMind· 2.8y–3y· stretch· Steps 2, 3
- MilestoneCopies simple gestures or actionsMind· 6mo–2.3y· core· Steps 2, 3
- MilestoneUnderstands simple questionsMind· 14mo–2.2y· core· Steps 1, 4
- MilestoneExpresses own preferences and interests.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneCombines two wordsMind· 14mo–3y· core
- MilestoneUses three- to five-word sentencesMind· 2y–4y· core
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· stretch
What it practices
- Learns new words very rapidly and is able to use them in communicating.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Holds a conversation, jumping from topic to topic.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses a variety of questions (e.g. what, where, who).Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide activities which help children to learn to distinguish differences in sounds, word patterns and rhythms.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)