When sitting, can lean forward to pick up small toys.
Observe whether the child: when sitting, can lean forward to pick up small toys.
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
Leans forward a little and may touch a toy, but often needs one hand braced for support or tips over when trying to grasp. Can pick up larger objects more easily than small toys and may manage only very short reaches.
What you might see
When a small toy is placed in front, the child reaches and then falls forward or sideways before grasping it.
The child only picks up toys by first moving onto hands-and-knees or lying down, not from sitting.
Leans forward and touches the toy but needs the other hand on the floor to stop falling.
Grasps the toy but tips over as they try to sit back up.
Reaches only for toys that are very close to the body; cannot reach slightly further without losing balance.
Expected
On track
Leans forward from sitting to pick up a small toy in familiar, calm conditions, then returns to upright sitting, sometimes with a wobble. May still use a hand briefly for balance or choose the closest toy rather than reaching further.
What you might see
Leans forward, picks up a small toy (e.g., block, figure), and sits back upright with minimal wobble.
Picks up a small toy from in front and brings it to examine while staying seated.
Repeats forward reach once or twice during play, though may occasionally steady self with a hand.
Exceeding
Going further
Leans forward to pick up small toys confidently while maintaining sitting balance, using one or both hands to grasp and manipulate. Can repeat the action across typical play contexts without falling.
What you might see
Leans forward to pick up several small toys one after another without falling.
Picks up a small toy and immediately uses both hands to play (no hand needed for propping).
Leans forward to place a small toy into a bowl/box and returns upright while remaining seated.
Reaches forward and slightly to the side to pick up a small toy and stays balanced throughout.
Picks up small toys and sorts them into a container while seated, adjusting posture as needed.
Leans further forward to retrieve a toy, then returns upright smoothly without using hands for support.
Try this at home
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
Play: Sit your child on the floor with a few small toys in front and notice whether they can lean forward to pick one up and then sit back upright without falling.
Tidy-up: Put a small box on the floor and observe whether your child can lean forward from sitting to place small toys into the box and keep their balance.
Story time: Place a small toy (e.g., a finger puppet) just in front while seated and watch whether your child leans to grab it without using a hand on the floor to steady.
Daily routine: During calm floor time, roll a small toy a short distance in front and observe whether your child can lean and retrieve it while staying in sitting.
Connected behaviours
Behaviours that scaffold, follow, or co-emerge with this one.
The framework source and supporting developmental research.
Framework source
Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage (DfE, 2012).
This construct is a verbatim Development Matters (2012) observable behaviour statement describing seated postural control during reaching.
Other sources
Folio, M. R., & Fewell, R. R. (2000). Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–Second Edition (PDMS-2). PRO-ED.
PDMS-2 stationary and early object manipulation observations align with balance demands of reaching from sitting and returning upright.
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
When reaching forward from sitting, loses balance and needs an adult to steady or reposition; cannot pick up a small toy while staying seated. The child avoids forward leaning or immediately collapses to the floor.
When a small toy is placed in front, the child reaches and then falls forward or sideways before grasping it.
The child only picks up toys by first moving onto hands-and-knees or lying down, not from sitting.
Emerging
Leans forward a little and may touch a toy, but often needs one hand braced for support or tips over when trying to grasp. Can pick up larger objects more easily than small toys and may manage only very short reaches.
Leans forward and touches the toy but needs the other hand on the floor to stop falling.
Grasps the toy but tips over as they try to sit back up.
Reaches only for toys that are very close to the body; cannot reach slightly further without losing balance.
Developing
Leans forward from sitting to pick up a small toy in familiar, calm conditions, then returns to upright sitting, sometimes with a wobble. May still use a hand briefly for balance or choose the closest toy rather than reaching further.
Leans forward, picks up a small toy (e.g., block, figure), and sits back upright with minimal wobble.
Picks up a small toy from in front and brings it to examine while staying seated.
Repeats forward reach once or twice during play, though may occasionally steady self with a hand.
Secure
Leans forward to pick up small toys confidently while maintaining sitting balance, using one or both hands to grasp and manipulate. Can repeat the action across typical play contexts without falling.
Leans forward to pick up several small toys one after another without falling.
Picks up a small toy and immediately uses both hands to play (no hand needed for propping).
Leans forward to place a small toy into a bowl/box and returns upright while remaining seated.
Reflexive
Uses controlled forward leaning flexibly: reaches for small toys at different distances/angles, transfers them into containers, and adjusts posture smoothly to stay stable while focused on play.
Reaches forward and slightly to the side to pick up a small toy and stays balanced throughout.
Picks up small toys and sorts them into a container while seated, adjusting posture as needed.
Leans further forward to retrieve a toy, then returns upright smoothly without using hands for support.
