2.5y–4.2y15 minArtReadingFamily time
Make a Mini Book, Share a Story
A short child-led book-making activity where the adult scribes the child's words, adds the book to the book area, and uses it for sharing stories—supporting comprehension, story structure, and print-meaning links.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 2–4 sheets of paper (folded or stapled into a small book)
- crayons/pencils/marker
- a place to keep the finished book (book area, basket, shelf)
Nice to have
- stickers or cut-out pictures (from old magazines) if available
- a favourite soft toy to be the 'audience'
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneUses talk to organise, sequence and clarify thinking, ideas, feelings and events.Mind· 3.3y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneGives meaning to own drawings or marksMind· 2.8y–3.8y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneTalks about own interests and ideasMind· 4y–5y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneTalks through a pictured storyMind· 4.2y–5y· core
- MilestoneUses three- to five-word sentencesMind· 2y–4y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneListens and joins inMind· 2.3y–3.3y· stretch
- MilestoneRetells or summarizes story contentMind· 4y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneIndependent connected storytellingMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneAttends to book contentMind· 18mo–2.6y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneAttends to Shared Book ReadingMind· 18mo–2.7y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestonePredicts what happens nextMind· 2.8y–3.6y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneUses mark-making toolsBody· 22mo–2.8y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneTurns pages one at a timeBody· 2y–2.5y· stretch· Step 4
What it practices
- Beginning to be aware of the way stories are structured.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Joins in with repeated refrains and anticipates key events and phrases in rhymes and stories.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Listens to and joins in with stories and poems, one-to-one and also in small groups.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Add child-made books and adult-scribed stories to the book area and use these for sharing stories with others.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)