Nursery World - 1 2 3, where are you?

'1 2 3, Where are you?' is a hide-and-seek safety game that we play on every visit to the woodland. Initially an adult will hide and the whole group will find them. Over time the groups hiding (with an adult in each) become smaller and smaller until the children play the game independently, with adults supporting. On hearing '1 2 3, Where Are You?' the children respond '1 2 3, We're Over Here!' Playing the game: * encourages children to make choices about taking turns, where to hide and where to look for friends

* encourages children to make choices about taking turns, where to hide and where to look for friends

* requires listening skills, communication, decision-making, negotiation, problem solving, physical skills, observation

* fosters children's willingness to explore and take risks, independence, high levels of involvement, care and concern for the needs, and views of others, self and the environment, a sense of trust and developing relationships

* enables children to move in a range of ways while negotiating an appropriate pathway

* allows them to express their thoughts and ideas with confidence, reflect on the merits of where they hid, recognise similarities and differences of the various hiding places. Discussions such as whether the group should hide behind, next to, in front of or inside of a shelter would happen throughout.

At the end, safety is reinforced by counting that there are the same numbers as when we started. We have heard this game being played in Sainsbury's when children and parents have got separated!