16–26 monthsBuilding RelationshipsPersonal, Social and Emotional Development: Making relationships
Plays cooperatively with a familiar adult, e.g. rolling a ball back and forth.
Observe whether the child: plays cooperatively with a familiar adult, e.g. rolling a ball back and forth.
What it looks like
Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.
Emerging
Just starting
Joins a simple turn-taking game for a moment (1-2 exchanges) but needs adult cues and often breaks the sequence by holding onto the toy or ending the game.
What you might see
When you roll the ball to them, they pick it up and walk away without returning it.
Keeps the ball and clutches it to their body when the adult reaches for a turn.
Ignores the adult's offer to take turns and continues a different activity instead.
Rolls or hands the ball back once, then holds onto it and looks away or walks off.
Needs you to say 'your turn' and/or guide their hands to roll the ball back.
Stops the game after a small interruption (ball veers off) and does not try to restart.
Expected
On track
Takes turns with a familiar adult in a predictable game when set up and supported, and can keep the back-and-forth going for several exchanges.
What you might see
After you roll the ball, rolls it back when you gesture or say 'back to me'.
Takes turns for 3-5 back-and-forth exchanges before drifting to another activity.
Looks at your face after sending the ball, waiting for you to respond.
Exceeding
Going further
Initiates and maintains cooperative back-and-forth play with a familiar adult, coping with small mishaps (misses, ball rolls away) and returning to the shared game.
What you might see
Starts the game by bringing you the ball and rolling it towards you.
Maintains back-and-forth play for about a minute, including retrieving the ball when it rolls away.
Waits while you take your turn without grabbing the ball from your hands.
Gestures or says 'your turn' and pauses, expecting you to play your turn.
Switches materials but keeps the same turn-taking pattern (e.g. rolls a car to you and waits for you to send it back).
If the sequence breaks (you miss), brings the ball back and restarts the game without distress.
Try this at home
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
During floor play, sit facing your child with a soft ball; roll it to them and notice whether they roll it back without prompting.
In the bath, take turns pouring water from cup to cup; notice whether your child waits for your turn and then offers you the cup for their turn.
At tidy-up time, take turns putting blocks into a box; notice whether your child accepts turn-taking without grabbing items from your hand.
On a walk or at the park, try a back-and-forth game (kick a ball, push a car down a ramp) and notice whether your child restarts the game after the ball goes away.
During a calm transition (waiting by the door), play a simple 'my turn/your turn' with passing a safe object (e.g. a scarf) and notice if they pass it back when asked.
Where this comes from
The framework source and supporting developmental research.
Framework source
Development Matters in the EYFS (2012) (DM2012), Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Making relationships.
This construct is a framework-native observable behaviour statement intended for formative assessment within the EYFS developmental continuum.
Five-level rubric (detailed)ShowHide
The full progression underlying the three levels above. Used by the platform’s reasoning agent when planning activities and observations.
Not Yet
Does not sustain back-and-forth play with a familiar adult; tends to keep the toy, move away, or switch activities rather than take turns.
When you roll the ball to them, they pick it up and walk away without returning it.
Keeps the ball and clutches it to their body when the adult reaches for a turn.
Ignores the adult's offer to take turns and continues a different activity instead.
Emerging
Joins a simple turn-taking game for a moment (1-2 exchanges) but needs adult cues and often breaks the sequence by holding onto the toy or ending the game.
Rolls or hands the ball back once, then holds onto it and looks away or walks off.
Needs you to say 'your turn' and/or guide their hands to roll the ball back.
Stops the game after a small interruption (ball veers off) and does not try to restart.
Developing
Takes turns with a familiar adult in a predictable game when set up and supported, and can keep the back-and-forth going for several exchanges.
After you roll the ball, rolls it back when you gesture or say 'back to me'.
Takes turns for 3-5 back-and-forth exchanges before drifting to another activity.
Looks at your face after sending the ball, waiting for you to respond.
Secure
Initiates and maintains cooperative back-and-forth play with a familiar adult, coping with small mishaps (misses, ball rolls away) and returning to the shared game.
Starts the game by bringing you the ball and rolling it towards you.
Maintains back-and-forth play for about a minute, including retrieving the ball when it rolls away.
Waits while you take your turn without grabbing the ball from your hands.
Reflexive
Flexibly starts, varies, and repairs cooperative play (fetches, restarts, changes distance/target) and transfers the turn-taking pattern to new materials or settings with the same adult.
Gestures or says 'your turn' and pauses, expecting you to play your turn.
Switches materials but keeps the same turn-taking pattern (e.g. rolls a car to you and waits for you to send it back).
If the sequence breaks (you miss), brings the ball back and restarts the game without distress.
