16mo–2.2y8 minReadingQuiet timeFamily time
Pause-and-Fill Story Time
A familiar re-read with playful pauses so your child can ‘read’ the next word by saying a key word, sound, or gesture, building enjoyment of favourite books and repeated phrases.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a story your child already knows well (picture book or simple rhyme book)
Nice to have
- a soft toy to ‘listen’ to the story
- a finger puppet or sock (as a silly narrator)
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
- MilestoneCompletes Familiar Story or Rhyme PhrasesMind· 20mo–2.7y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneLooks at books with a familiar personMind· 10mo–2y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneCopies familiar phrasesMind· 12mo–23mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneAttends to Shared Book ReadingMind· 18mo–2.7y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneAttends to book contentMind· 18mo–2.6y· stretch· Step 1
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Read stories that children already know, pausing at intervals to encourage them to ‘read’ the next word.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)