3.3y–5y12 minWith other childrenActive playOutdoor
Team Toss & Roll: Play Together
A cooperative ball-game routine where you help your child practise throwing, rolling, fetching, and receiving with a buddy, using turn-taking language and shared goals.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a soft ball (or rolled-up socks)
- a laundry basket or cardboard box (as a target)
- 2 small items to fetch (e.g., soft toys or socks)
Nice to have
- masking tape (to mark two ‘bases’)
- a scarf or ribbon (to make a ‘finish line’)
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
- MilestoneShows increasing control over an object in pushing, patting, throwing, catching or kicking it.Body· 3.3y–5y· core· Steps 1, 2
- MilestoneCooperative turn-taking play with peersHeart· 4y–5y· stretch· Steps 1, 2, 3
- MilestoneCooperative peer playHeart· 2.7y–3.8y· stretch· Steps 3, 4
- MilestoneTakes turns in simple games with adult supportHeart· 20mo–3.3y· core· Steps 1, 2
- MilestoneCatches a large thrown ballBody· 2.7y–3.8y· core
- MilestoneNegotiates space while movingBody· 3.3y–5y· stretch
- MilestoneTalks about own interests and ideasMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneFocuses on self-chosen activityMind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 4
What it practices
- Shows increasing control over an object in pushing, patting, throwing, catching or kicking it.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Negotiates space successfully when playing racing and chasing games with other children, adjusting speed or changing direction to avoid obstacles.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Experiments with different ways of moving.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Show children how to collaborate in throwing, rolling, fetching and receiving games, encouraging children to play with one another once their skills are sufficient.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)