Sweep Beside Me

What you need

• a dustpan and brush
• your broom

How to do it

1. Sweep the kitchen floor slowly with your broom, where they can see.
2. Give them the small brush and let them sweep the floor beside you.
3. Hold the dustpan flat on the floor and let them brush into it.
4. Tip the dustpan into the bin together.

Why it matters

Sweeping is a job they see often, and a brush of their own lets them do it next to you instead of watching.

What they're learning

Copying a job

Doing what you're doing, right next to you.

Arm sweeps

Push-and-pull strokes using the whole arm.

Aiming

Brushing towards the dustpan.

What to look for

Notice them watching your broom and changing how they sweep to match.

A tip

Sweep up anything sharp or small yourself first, and keep the broom with you, as its long handle is for grown-ups. Rinse the brush if it ends up in their mouth.

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