16mo–2.2y10 minFree playActive playFamily time
Up, Down, Jump: Follow your child's Lead
Follow your child’s movement play and add simple action words (up, down, jump, stop, go) to build early vocabulary, turn-taking, and simple questions.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a safe clear space (indoors or outdoors)
- 2 cushions or a folded blanket to make a small ‘up/down’ spot
Nice to have
- a soft toy or ball
- music (optional, low volume)
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
- MilestoneCombines two wordsMind· 14mo–3y· stretch
- MilestoneCopies heard wordsMind· 8mo–20mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneCopies sounds or wordsMind· 10mo–20mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneBeginning to ask simple questions.Mind· 2.1y–4.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneNames familiar referentsMind· 15mo–2.3y· core
- MilestoneBeginning to talk about people and things that are not present.Mind· 16mo–2.2y· core· Step 4
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Allow time to follow young children’s lead and have fun together while developing vocabulary, e.g. saying ‘We’re jumping up’, ‘going down’.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)