TinyStepper
Parent playing peekaboo with a light scarf, toddler delighted

My Bag Check

Practise carrying, opening, and finding items in their own bag — building the independence nursery mornings require.

Activity details

2y–3y8 minslowindoorPlastic BottlesPlastic Containers

Instructions

Tiny Steps

Get ready
  • Choose a small backpack or bag that your toddler can carry comfortably
  • Pack it together, naming each item: 'Water bottle, snack box, spare pants, teddy'
  1. Choose a small backpack or bag that your toddler can carry comfortably
  2. Pack it together, naming each item: 'Water bottle, snack box, spare pants, teddy'
  3. Let your toddler zip or fasten the bag closed independently
  4. Practise carrying it across the room and hanging it on a low hook
  5. Ask: 'Can you find your water bottle in your bag?' and let them unzip and search
  6. Practise putting the item back and closing the bag again
  7. Play a game: 'I'm going to ask for something — can you find it in your bag quickly?'
  8. Make this part of the morning routine: 'Let's check your bag — is everything in there?'

Parent tip

Set out plastic bottles and plastic containers before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Toddler at a table with a completed puzzle and neatly sorted blocks in a bright aha moment

What success looks like

Intense focus, even briefly. Watch for the small ‘aha’ moment when they figure out how something works.

Give your toddler a small backpack or bag of their own. Together, pack a few familiar items: a water bottle, a snack box, a comfort toy, a spare pair of pants. Then practise the full sequence: pick up the bag, carry it, put it down, unzip it, find a specific item, zip it back up. At nursery, children are expected to manage their own bags — hanging them on pegs, finding their water bottles, locating their spare clothes. A toddler who has practised this at home walks into nursery with one less unfamiliar challenge.

Why it helps

Managing personal belongings requires sequencing, fine motor control (zips, buckles), and organisational thinking. Practising at home means the physical skills (opening, closing, searching) are automatic by the time your toddler starts nursery, freeing up their cognitive resources for the social and emotional challenges of a new environment. This supports the EYFS Personal, Social and Emotional Development goal of managing their own basic hygiene and personal needs.

Variations

  • Add a 'bag check' step to the morning routine chart — your toddler ticks it off each day.
  • Play a memory game: pack the bag together, then ask 'What is in your bag?' without looking — building recall.
  • Practise hanging the bag on different hooks at different heights to prepare for varying nursery setups.

Safety tips

  • Ensure the bag is lightweight and small enough for your toddler to carry without strain — a heavy bag causes frustration and back discomfort.
  • Check that zips move smoothly and do not catch on fabric, which can pinch small fingers.
  • Avoid packing anything breakable or sharp — toddlers often drop or swing their bags during the excitement of packing.