3.3y–5y12 minActive playFamily timeOutdoor
Strong–Gentle Body Meter: Effort Words in Motion
A 40–60 month movement game where your child practises controlled effort while you model and use words like strong, firm, gentle, heavy, stretch, reach, tense and floppy through playful ‘effort challenges’.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a clear indoor/outdoor space
- a light cloth (scarf/tea towel) for ‘gentle’ moves
- one pillow or cushion for ‘heavy’ carries
- a soft ball (or rolled-up socks) for gentle vs firm pushes
- a wall or sturdy surface for safe pushing
Nice to have
- masking tape to mark a start line and two ‘stations’
- a timer (phone) for 10-second challenges
- music for a warm-up beat
Movement level: mild
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneReceptive opposite understandingMind· 4y–5y· core· Steps 1, 2
- MilestoneShows increasing control over an object in pushing, patting, throwing, catching or kicking it.Body· 3.3y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneHandles varied tools with controlBody· 3.3y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneFollows ordered multi-step directionsMind· 4y–5.6y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneFollows instructions with several steps or actionsMind· 3.3y–4y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneNegotiates space while movingBody· 3.3y–5y· core
- MilestoneShows understanding of how to transport and store equipment safely.Mind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneSettles after excitementHeart· 4y–6y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneClimbs playground equipmentBody· 3.3y–5y· stretch
What it practices
- Experiments with different ways of moving.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Travels with confidence and skill around, under, over and through balancing and climbing equipment.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows increasing control over an object in pushing, patting, throwing, catching or kicking it.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Encourage children to move with controlled effort, and use associated vocabulary such as ‘strong’, ‘firm’, ‘gentle’, ‘heavy’, ‘stretch’, ‘reach’, ‘tense’ and ‘floppy’.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)