0mo–11mo8 minReadingQuiet timeFamily time
Tell-and-Read: Baby Story Chat
A cosy, baby-led story routine where you tell (and read) tiny stories while looking at and interacting with your child, following their cues and responding to their sounds, looks, and movements.
What you'll need
Essentials
- one simple board book, cloth book, or picture book
- a comfortable, safe place to sit with your child (lap, sofa, or floor mat)
Nice to have
- a small soft toy (to include as a character)
- a muslin/blanket for a gentle peekaboo moment
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
- MilestoneLooks at books with a familiar personMind· 10mo–2y· core· Steps 1, 4
- MilestonePlays simple back-and-forth gamesHeart· 6mo–14mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneVocalizes back during interactionHeart· 2mo–8mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneTakes turns making soundsHeart· 4mo–8mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneExplores and handles booksMind· 6mo–12mo· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneAlerts or calms to speechMind· 0mo–4mo· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· stretch· Step 1
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Tell, as well as read, stories, looking at and interacting with young babies.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)