16mo–2.2y10 minReadingStory timeQuiet time
Many Faces Book Peek
A cozy book-and-photo routine that helps you offer diverse, stereotype-free people images and simple story talk with your child, building warm curiosity about families and everyday life.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 2–3 picture books that show people (use what you already have)
- 3–6 family photos (printed or on your phone)
Nice to have
- a small doll or stuffed animal
- a blanket or cushion
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneEnjoys pictures and stories about themselves, their families and other people.Heart· 16mo–2.2y· stretch
- MilestoneIs curious about people and shows interest in stories about themselves and their family.Heart· 16mo–2.2y· core
- MilestoneHas a sense of own immediate family and relations.Heart· 16mo–2.2y· stretch
- MilestoneLooks at books with a familiar personMind· 10mo–2y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneAttends to book contentMind· 18mo–2.6y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneSimple pretend playMind· 14mo–2.2y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneCopies simple gestures or actionsMind· 6mo–2.3y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneReenacts familiar experiencesMind· 2.2y–3.8y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneIdentifies named picturesMind· 2y–3y· core· Step 3
What it practices
- Is curious about people and shows interest in stories about themselves and their family.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Enjoys pictures and stories about themselves, their families and other people.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Has a sense of own immediate family and relations.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Learns that they have similarities and differences that connect them to, and distinguish them from, others.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide books and resources which represent children’s diverse backgrounds and which avoid negative stereotypes.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)