2.5y–4.2y12 minStory timeFamily timeFree play
The Bear Arrives!
A story-stimulus activity where the parent suggests an imaginative event (a bear arrives with a letter) and supports the child to invent care ideas, roles, and a simple plan, building sustained imaginative play.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a teddy/bear or soft toy
- a small piece of paper (the ‘letter’)
- a small blanket/cloth (bed/blanket)
Nice to have
- a small box (bed/house)
- a spoon/cup (food and drink)
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
- MilestonePlans a pretend scenarioMind· 3.3y–5y· stretch
- MilestoneCreates pretend small world stories with toysMind· 3y–4y· core
- MilestoneEnacts a pretend roleMind· 3y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneAdds a sequenced storylineMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestonePretends with imagined roles or thingsMind· 2y–3y· core
- MilestoneUses symbolic substitution (objects and words) in playMind· 20mo–3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneTalks about own interests and ideasMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneRetells or summarizes story contentMind· 4y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneAnswers story questionsMind· 2.1y–3.1y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneTalks About Past and Future EventsMind· 2.5y–3y· core· Step 4
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Offer a story stimulus by suggesting an imaginary event or set of circumstances, e.g., “This bear has arrived in the post. He has a letter pinned to his jacket. It says ‘Please look after this bear.’ We should look after him in our room. How can we do that?”.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)