2.5y–4.2y10 minFamily timeStory timeQuiet time
Stories in Any Language
An inclusive story-sharing routine that works with or without written text, using oral storytelling, pictures, and conversation to build comprehension.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 2-3 family photos (on a phone or printed) or 2-3 familiar objects
- a comfortable place to sit together
Nice to have
- a picture book (any language) if you have one
- a short audio story/song (phone recording is fine)
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
- MilestoneBeginning to be aware of the way stories are structured.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Steps 2, 4
- MilestoneRetells or summarizes story contentMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneOrders a complete familiar sequenceMind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneAttends and recallsMind· 2.5y–4.2y· core
- MilestoneAnswers story questionsMind· 2.1y–3.1y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneIndependent connected storytellingMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneShows nonverbal story understandingMind· 3y–5y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneNames own feelingsHeart· 3y–4y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneTalks through a pictured storyMind· 4.2y–5y· core
- MilestoneAnswers simple open questionsMind· 2.3y–3.3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneNames pictured referentsMind· 23mo–2.9y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneNames objects in contextMind· 2.5y–3.8y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneAttends to Shared Book ReadingMind· 18mo–2.7y· stretch
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Remember not all languages have written forms and not all families are literate either in English, or in a different home language.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)