16-26 months- show interest in toys with buttons and flaps and simple mechanisms and begin to learn to operate.

Resource  -  Metal Detector

Context  -  A little girl in one of the settings didn't like going outside when it's a bit cold. She had being to a party where Pirates were the theme. She came back to Nursery really excited about it and had brought in her pirate hat and goody bag to show and tell. She didn't like using the metal detector because she thought it was a "boy's toy". By putting it into the context of being the pirate finding the treasure in the garden/ sand she loved it. How many things could she find and collect for her goody bag? Anything can be hidden and found by the metal detector so you can attach paperclips or wrap the object in foil.

She was then encouraged to hide the objects for the other children to find and encouraged to show the other children how to use the metal detector.

This covers all learning aimse.g

PSED - sharing

MD- How many?  Positional language.

Creative Development - Role play

KUW - exploring outside, enabling environments.

CLL - explaining,  talking , communicating.

PD - from going to "not liking being outside" to not even noticing and running about outside looking for treasure.

This would be a great example to put in the child's portfolio as a documented moment within the setting.