Understanding the World

Understanding the World is the strand about noticing how things work and where things come from. For a toddler that is ice melting in a warm hand, a sponge going heavy with water, a plant needing a drink, a leaf that crunches. The activities here are small experiments dressed up as play. Most happen in the kitchen or the garden and all of them give you a chance to say what is happening and wait for the look of surprise.

217 activities

Ball Down the Ramp illustration Ball Down the Ramp from 12 months · 5-10 min Barefoot on the Grass illustration Barefoot on the Grass from 12 months · 5-10 min Bath Toy Colours illustration Bath Toy Colours from 12 months · 5-10 min Brushing in the Mirror illustration Brushing in the Mirror from 12 months · 5 min Bubble Wrap Stomp illustration Bubble Wrap Stomp from 12 months · 5-10 min Cloud Spotting Lie-Down illustration Cloud Spotting Lie-Down from 12 months · 5-10 min Cup Hide And Seek illustration Cup Hide And Seek from 12 months · 5-10 min Cup Rinse at Bath Time illustration Cup Rinse at Bath Time from 12 months · 10-15 min Doorstep Watch illustration Doorstep Watch from 12 months · 10-15 min Flour Hand Prints illustration Flour Hand Prints from 12 months · 25-40 min Garden Splash Tray illustration Garden Splash Tray from 12 months · 10-15 min Go Again? illustration Go Again? from 12 months · 5 min Hello, Kitchen! illustration Hello, Kitchen! from 12 months · 5-10 min Jelly Squish Tray illustration Jelly Squish Tray from 12 months · 20-35 min Leaf Crunch Basket illustration Leaf Crunch Basket from 12 months · 20-30 min Leaf Pile Stomp illustration Leaf Pile Stomp from 12 months · 10-15 min Lights On, Lights Off illustration Lights On, Lights Off from 12 months · 5 min Low Table Treasures illustration Low Table Treasures from 12 months · 20-30 min One Colour Treasure Basket illustration One Colour Treasure Basket from 12 months · 30-45 min Paper Bag Tear and Stuff illustration Paper Bag Tear and Stuff from 12 months · 30-45 min Pudding Finger Paint Splat illustration Pudding Finger Paint Splat from 12 months · 20-30 min Pumpkin Guts Tray illustration Pumpkin Guts Tray from 12 months · 15-30 min Scarf Post Box illustration Scarf Post Box from 12 months · 10-15 min Scarf Pull Tube illustration Scarf Pull Tube from 12 months · 5-10 min Shoe Box Lid Flip illustration Shoe Box Lid Flip from 12 months · 10-15 min Slinky Ball Drop illustration Slinky Ball Drop from 12 months · 10-15 min Sock Duster illustration Sock Duster from 12 months · 15-25 min Squish Bag Painting illustration Squish Bag Painting from 12 months · 5-10 min Stir the Pan illustration Stir the Pan from 12 months · 5-10 min The Pan Cupboard illustration The Pan Cupboard from 12 months · 20-30 min Tissue Paper Rain illustration Tissue Paper Rain from 12 months · 10-15 min Torch Under Blanket illustration Torch Under Blanket from 12 months · 5-10 min Touch the Garden illustration Touch the Garden from 12 months · 10-15 min Wash the Pumpkin illustration Wash the Pumpkin from 12 months · 10-15 min Wet Hand Prints illustration Wet Hand Prints from 12 months · 10-15 min Wet Sponge Squeeze illustration Wet Sponge Squeeze from 12 months · 20-35 min Where Did It Go illustration Where Did It Go from 12 months · 5 min Window Bird Watch illustration Window Bird Watch from 12 months · 5-10 min Window Wave illustration Window Wave from 12 months · 5-10 min Carry The Toolbag illustration Carry The Toolbag from 13 months · 20-35 min Flour Spoon Tap illustration Flour Spoon Tap from 13 months · 5-10 min Leaf Basket Walk illustration Leaf Basket Walk from 13 months · 10-15 min Watering Can Fill illustration Watering Can Fill from 13 months · 5-10 min Barefoot When We Get In illustration Barefoot When We Get In from 14 months · 5-10 min Bubble Wrap Path illustration Bubble Wrap Path from 14 months · 10-15 min Coat Pocket Treasure Hunt illustration Coat Pocket Treasure Hunt from 14 months · 5 min Cornflour Goop Tray illustration Cornflour Goop Tray from 14 months · 20-35 min Funnel Water Race illustration Funnel Water Race from 14 months · 5-10 min Hello, Mr Bus! illustration Hello, Mr Bus! from 14 months · 10-15 min Hello, Park! Bye, Park! illustration Hello, Park! Bye, Park! from 14 months · 5 min Leaf Window illustration Leaf Window from 14 months · 10-15 min Paper Tear Basket illustration Paper Tear Basket from 14 months · 10-15 min Play Dough Poke illustration Play Dough Poke from 14 months · 25-40 min Pom-Pom Cup Scoop illustration Pom-Pom Cup Scoop from 14 months · 5-10 min Shadow Puppet Wall Watch illustration Shadow Puppet Wall Watch from 14 months · 20-30 min Sink-Side Cup Play illustration Sink-Side Cup Play from 14 months · 10-15 min Soft Ball Roll Bowling illustration Soft Ball Roll Bowling from 14 months · 20-35 min Sound Hunt Walk illustration Sound Hunt Walk from 14 months · 20-35 min Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer illustration Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer from 14 months · 20-35 min The Missing Piece illustration The Missing Piece from 14 months · 10-15 min Torchlight Bug Search illustration Torchlight Bug Search from 14 months · 25-40 min Treasure Basket Walk illustration Treasure Basket Walk from 14 months · 25-45 min Velcro Strip Pull Apart illustration Velcro Strip Pull Apart from 14 months · 5-10 min Wide Tube Post illustration Wide Tube Post from 14 months · 5-10 min Window Raindrop Watch illustration Window Raindrop Watch from 14 months · 5-10 min Garden Watering Round illustration Garden Watering Round from 15 months · 20-40 min Names on a Walk illustration Names on a Walk from 15 months · 10-15 min Sticky Spider Web illustration Sticky Spider Web from 15 months · 10-20 min Blue Cup Walk illustration Blue Cup Walk from 16 months · 5-10 min Flour Dough Knead illustration Flour Dough Knead from 16 months · 20-40 min Foam First illustration Foam First from 16 months · 5-10 min Frozen Toy Dig illustration Frozen Toy Dig from 16 months · 25-40 min Muddy Hands illustration Muddy Hands from 16 months · 5-10 min Music Box Wind & Listen illustration Music Box Wind & Listen from 16 months · 5 min Paintbrush Puddle Art illustration Paintbrush Puddle Art from 16 months · 5-10 min Pom-Pom Water Scoop illustration Pom-Pom Water Scoop from 16 months · 20-35 min Sock Ball Basket illustration Sock Ball Basket from 16 months · 5-10 min Sticky Tree Walk illustration Sticky Tree Walk from 16 months · 15-20 min Bubble Bath Whisk illustration Bubble Bath Whisk from 18 months · 20-30 min Egg Box Boat Float illustration Egg Box Boat Float from 18 months · 10-15 min Recycling Sort Bin illustration Recycling Sort Bin from 18 months · 20-35 min Turn the Tap illustration Turn the Tap from 18 months · 5 min Wash the Spot Off illustration Wash the Spot Off from 18 months · 10-15 min Water The Plant illustration Water The Plant from 18 months · 5 min Whisk Air Bubbles illustration Whisk Air Bubbles from 18 months · 5-10 min All Gone illustration All Gone from 20 months · 5 min Backpack Treasure Carry illustration Backpack Treasure Carry from 20 months · 10-15 min Bottle Car Wash illustration Bottle Car Wash from 20 months · 30-45 min Carton Funnel Pour illustration Carton Funnel Pour from 20 months · 10-15 min Torch Twilight Search illustration Torch Twilight Search from 20 months · 10-15 min Water Painting illustration Water Painting from 22 months · 10-15 min Where Does It Go? illustration Where Does It Go? from 22 months · 10-15 min Big Jug, Little Cups illustration Big Jug, Little Cups from 24 months · 30-45 min Cars At The Window illustration Cars At The Window from 24 months · 5-10 min Cauldron Potion illustration Cauldron Potion from 24 months · 20-30 min Coffee Filter Bats illustration Coffee Filter Bats from 24 months · 15-20 min Colour Hunt Basket illustration Colour Hunt Basket from 24 months · 30-45 min Count the Cars Going Past illustration Count the Cars Going Past from 24 months · 5-10 min Feed The Pet illustration Feed The Pet from 24 months · 5-10 min Flatten the Boxes illustration Flatten the Boxes from 24 months · 10-15 min Fork Print Hedgehogs illustration Fork Print Hedgehogs from 24 months · 10-15 min Halloween Window Walk illustration Halloween Window Walk from 24 months · 20-40 min Jelly Hands Dig illustration Jelly Hands Dig from 24 months · 20-30 min Leaf Printing illustration Leaf Printing from 24 months · 15-20 min Leaf Puzzle illustration Leaf Puzzle from 24 months · 10-15 min Leaf Rubbings illustration Leaf Rubbings from 24 months · 10-15 min Leafy Lion Mane illustration Leafy Lion Mane from 24 months · 15-20 min Loud Shoes, Quiet Socks illustration Loud Shoes, Quiet Socks from 24 months · 5-10 min Magic Milk illustration Magic Milk from 24 months · 10-15 min Name Everything on the Table illustration Name Everything on the Table from 24 months · 5 min Nature Paintbrushes illustration Nature Paintbrushes from 24 months · 20-30 min Pine Cone Snail illustration Pine Cone Snail from 24 months · 10-15 min Puddle Boat Race illustration Puddle Boat Race from 24 months · 20-40 min Puddle Splash Hunt illustration Puddle Splash Hunt from 24 months · 20-40 min Pumpkin Stamp Painting illustration Pumpkin Stamp Painting from 24 months · 15-20 min Sort the Recycling illustration Sort the Recycling from 24 months · 30-45 min Spot the Red Thing illustration Spot the Red Thing from 24 months · 5-10 min Water The Plants illustration Water The Plants from 24 months · 5-10 min Witch's Soup illustration Witch's Soup from 24 months · 10-15 min Kitchen Shape Hunt illustration Kitchen Shape Hunt from 26 months · 30-45 min Spread The Butter illustration Spread The Butter from 26 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Trick-or-Treat Trail illustration Teddy's Trick-or-Treat Trail from 26 months · 15-20 min Texture Basket Guess illustration Texture Basket Guess from 26 months · 5-10 min Twist The Lid illustration Twist The Lid from 26 months · 5-10 min Muddy Garden Pat-A-Cake illustration Muddy Garden Pat-A-Cake from 28 months · 25-40 min Bark Rubbing illustration Bark Rubbing from 30 months · 20-30 min Cloud Shapes illustration Cloud Shapes from 30 months · 10-15 min Heavy or Light? illustration Heavy or Light? from 30 months · 5-10 min How Many Sounds? illustration How Many Sounds? from 30 months · 5-10 min Log Scramble illustration Log Scramble from 30 months · 10-15 min Mix a New Colour illustration Mix a New Colour from 30 months · 30-40 min Stick Line-Up illustration Stick Line-Up from 30 months · 30-40 min Sweep the Path illustration Sweep the Path from 30 months · 10-15 min Tube Voice illustration Tube Voice from 30 months · 5-10 min What Disappears? illustration What Disappears? from 30 months · 20-30 min When You Were a Baby illustration When You Were a Baby from 30 months · 10-15 min Which Rolls Furthest? illustration Which Rolls Furthest? from 30 months · 10-15 min Who Does This Job? illustration Who Does This Job? from 30 months · 5-10 min Sink or Float Guess illustration Sink or Float Guess from 33 months · 10-15 min Spaghetti Snip Tray illustration Spaghetti Snip Tray from 34 months · 10-15 min Tube Ball Run illustration Tube Ball Run from 34 months · 30-45 min Apple Taste Test illustration Apple Taste Test from 36 months · 10-15 min Autumn Leaf Collage illustration Autumn Leaf Collage from 36 months · 30-40 min Baby Photo Line illustration Baby Photo Line from 36 months · 30-40 min Barefoot Feely Path illustration Barefoot Feely Path from 36 months · 15-20 min Big Brush Colour Mix illustration Big Brush Colour Mix from 36 months · 10-15 min Bike and Scooter Wash illustration Bike and Scooter Wash from 36 months · 30-40 min Bubble Snake Bottle illustration Bubble Snake Bottle from 36 months · 10-15 min Bug Hotel illustration Bug Hotel from 36 months · 30-40 min Calm-Down Glitter Bottle illustration Calm-Down Glitter Bottle from 36 months · 10-15 min Chalk Round the Puddle illustration Chalk Round the Puddle from 36 months · 10-15 min Cheesy Scone Bake illustration Cheesy Scone Bake from 36 months · 30-45 min Crayon Rubbing Hunt illustration Crayon Rubbing Hunt from 36 months · 10-15 min Cress Head Pots illustration Cress Head Pots from 36 months · 30-40 min Dolls' Clothes Wash illustration Dolls' Clothes Wash from 36 months · 10-15 min Dress for the Weather illustration Dress for the Weather from 36 months · 10-15 min Fairy Cake Bake illustration Fairy Cake Bake from 36 months · 30-45 min Family Height Line illustration Family Height Line from 36 months · 10-15 min Feely Bag Mystery illustration Feely Bag Mystery from 36 months · 30-40 min Fill the Bird Feeder illustration Fill the Bird Feeder from 36 months · 10-15 min Frozen Toy Rescue illustration Frozen Toy Rescue from 36 months · 30-40 min Guess the Voice illustration Guess the Voice from 36 months · 5-10 min Hedgehog Winter Box illustration Hedgehog Winter Box from 36 months · 30-40 min Library Book Choosing illustration Library Book Choosing from 36 months · 10-15 min Listening Walk illustration Listening Walk from 36 months · 15-20 min Long Jump Sticks illustration Long Jump Sticks from 36 months · 10-15 min Minibeast Hunt illustration Minibeast Hunt from 36 months · 15-20 min Mud Pie Recipes illustration Mud Pie Recipes from 36 months · 30-45 min Nature Table illustration Nature Table from 36 months · 30-45 min Petal Perfume illustration Petal Perfume from 36 months · 30-40 min Pick the Fruit at the Shop illustration Pick the Fruit at the Shop from 36 months · 10-15 min Plant Spring Bulbs illustration Plant Spring Bulbs from 36 months · 30-40 min Pull the Weeds illustration Pull the Weeds from 36 months · 15-20 min Pumpkin Scoop and Sort illustration Pumpkin Scoop and Sort from 36 months · 30-40 min Pumpkin Window Walk illustration Pumpkin Window Walk from 36 months · 10-15 min Put the Shopping Away illustration Put the Shopping Away from 36 months · 10-15 min Rain Stick Music illustration Rain Stick Music from 36 months · 30-40 min Rainbow Treasure Hunt illustration Rainbow Treasure Hunt from 36 months · 30-40 min Rainbow Water Cups illustration Rainbow Water Cups from 36 months · 10-15 min Rake the Leaves illustration Rake the Leaves from 36 months · 30-40 min Ramp Roll Race illustration Ramp Roll Race from 36 months · 10-15 min Recycling Sorter illustration Recycling Sorter from 36 months · 10-15 min Salt Dough Shapes illustration Salt Dough Shapes from 36 months · 30-40 min Sandcastle Row illustration Sandcastle Row from 36 months · 15-20 min Shadow Drawing illustration Shadow Drawing from 36 months · 15-20 min Shadow Tag illustration Shadow Tag from 36 months · 10-15 min Shine the Windows illustration Shine the Windows from 36 months · 10-15 min Smell Pots illustration Smell Pots from 36 months · 10-15 min Snow Dough World illustration Snow Dough World from 36 months · 30-40 min Splash Sounds Test illustration Splash Sounds Test from 36 months · 10-15 min Sponge Bucket Relay illustration Sponge Bucket Relay from 36 months · 30-40 min Spray Bottle Painting illustration Spray Bottle Painting from 36 months · 15-20 min Stick and Leaf Patterns illustration Stick and Leaf Patterns from 36 months · 10-15 min Sun and Shade Hunt illustration Sun and Shade Hunt from 36 months · 10-15 min Tear the Salad Leaves illustration Tear the Salad Leaves from 36 months · 10-15 min Thirsty Plant Check illustration Thirsty Plant Check from 36 months · 10-15 min Three Little Pigs Houses illustration Three Little Pigs Houses from 36 months · 10-15 min Tissue Paper Window illustration Tissue Paper Window from 36 months · 10-15 min Toy Mending Day illustration Toy Mending Day from 36 months · 30-40 min Toy Vet's Surgery illustration Toy Vet's Surgery from 36 months · 30-40 min Traffic Light Scooter illustration Traffic Light Scooter from 36 months · 10-15 min Warm and Cold Hands illustration Warm and Cold Hands from 36 months · 10-15 min Wash the Plastic Plates illustration Wash the Plastic Plates from 36 months · 10-15 min Water Brush Letters illustration Water Brush Letters from 36 months · 10-15 min Welly Boot Scrub illustration Welly Boot Scrub from 36 months · 10-15 min Wet and Dry Stones illustration Wet and Dry Stones from 36 months · 10-15 min What Dissolves? illustration What Dissolves? from 36 months · 30-40 min Which Cup Holds More? illustration Which Cup Holds More? from 36 months · 30-40 min Window View Drawing illustration Window View Drawing from 36 months · 10-15 min Windy Day Watch illustration Windy Day Watch from 36 months · 10-15 min Witch's Potion Lab illustration Witch's Potion Lab from 36 months · 30-40 min Cloud Story Watch illustration Cloud Story Watch from 38 months · 10-15 min Foil Tray Boats illustration Foil Tray Boats from 38 months · 30-45 min Stick Shapes illustration Stick Shapes from 38 months · 10-15 min Toy Town Small World illustration Toy Town Small World from 38 months · 15-20 min First Letter Hunt illustration First Letter Hunt from 40 months · 15-20 min Road Sign Shapes illustration Road Sign Shapes from 40 months · 15-20 min

Other EYFS areas

Communication and Language activities for toddlers · Physical Development activities for toddlers · Personal, Social and Emotional Development activities for toddlers · Literacy activities for toddlers · Mathematics activities for toddlers · Expressive Arts and Design activities for toddlers · All activities