Where Is It? Position & Direction (EYFS)

Inside Where Is It? Position & Direction (EYFS)

position words like on, under, next to, behind, in front of and between; direction words like forwards, backwards, up and down; and real hide-and-find games with teddy and a grown-up. About 15 gentle minutes with a grown-up.

Learning objectives

• say where things are using on, under, next to, behind, in front of and between;
• use direction words — forwards, backwards, up and down — while really moving;
• follow and give simple treasure-hunt instructions like "teddy is UNDER the table";
• play real hide-and-seek and obstacle games that turn spatial words into movement;
• draw simple maps and pictures of where things are and which way they went.

Activities in this book

1. Play 1 — Where Is Teddy?

   read each little scene slowly with a grown-up, then act it out with a real teddy before you choose. Showing it with your hands makes the word easy to find!

2. Play 2 — Hide-and-Seek with Teddy

   take turns! When your child hides teddy, gently ask 'where is he?' and help them say the whole sentence — 'teddy is UNDER the table' — before the next go.

3. Play 3 — Which Way? Forwards & Backwards

   stand up and really do the moves together first — step forwards, step backwards, reach up, crouch down — then come back and choose the word.

4. Play 4 — Teddy Treasure Hunt

   give one little instruction at a time — 'walk forwards three steps… now look UNDER the cushion' — and let your child be the explorer. Then let them give YOU the instructions!

5. Play 5 — Position Play at Home

   tidy-up time, bath time and walks are full of position words. Say them out loud together — 'socks IN the drawer, duck UNDER the bubbles' — and have fun. There is no wrong answer here.

Suggestions for teaching

• Act everything out. Position words stick when children move a real teddy on, under and behind real furniture.
• Say whole sentences. Model "teddy is UNDER the table", then let your child copy and invent their own.
• Swap roles. Giving clues is just as powerful as following them — let your child hide teddy and guide you.
• Move for direction words. Step forwards and backwards, reach up, crouch down — link each word to a body movement.
• Keep clues tiny. One instruction at a time on the treasure hunt, with lots of praise for careful listening.