0mo–11mo8 minQuiet timeNapStory time
Story Snuggle: Quiet-Time Favourite Tales
A calming, repeatable quiet-time story routine where you shares a favourite book with your child, using gentle voice, pauses, and responsive turn-taking to support early listening and attention.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a favourite board or cloth book
- a comfortable, safe quiet spot (your lap, cot-side, sofa, or a blanket on the floor)
Nice to have
- a soft toy or comforter
- a light blanket or muslin cloth
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
- MilestoneListens to familiar sounds, words, or finger plays.Mind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneAlerts or calms to speechMind· 0mo–4mo· core
- MilestoneResponds to a speaking personHeart· 0mo–14mo· core· Step 1
- MilestonePlays simple back-and-forth gamesHeart· 6mo–14mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneLooks at a speaking caregiverMind· 1mo–6mo· core
- MilestoneVocalizes back during interactionHeart· 2mo–8mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneResponds to own nameMind· 6mo–10mo· stretch
- MilestoneChildren’s later writing is based on skills and understandings which they develop as babies and toddlers. Before they can write, they need to learn to use spoken language to communicate. Later they learn to write down the words they can say. (See the roots of Writing in Communication and language).Mind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 3
What it practices
- Quietens or alerts to the sound of speech.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Listens to, distinguishes and responds to intonations and sounds of voices.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Looks intently at a person talking, but stops responding if speaker turns away.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Reacts in interaction with others by smiling, looking and moving.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Share favourite stories as babies are settling to sleep, or at other quiet times.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)