2.5y–4.2y10 minReadingFamily timeStory time
Two Scripts Storytime: Spot, Compare, Celebrate
A shared-reading activity using a dual-language book (or simple home-made bilingual labels) to raise your child’s awareness that different languages can look different in print, while keeping the experience joyful and inclusive of family languages.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a dual-language book (any two languages) OR two short lines written on paper in two languages (English + a family/community language)
- paper
- a pen or marker
Nice to have
- 2–3 familiar objects to label (e.g., cup, door, toy car)
- tape or sticky notes
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneAttends to book contentMind· 18mo–2.6y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneNotices detailed features of objects in their environment.Mind· 22mo–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneListens and joins inMind· 2.3y–3.3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneAttends to Shared Book ReadingMind· 18mo–2.7y· stretch· Step 2
What it practices
- Enjoys rhyming and rhythmic activities.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows awareness of rhyme and alliteration.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Continues a rhyming string.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Hears and says the initial sound in words.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Can segment the sounds in simple words and blend them together and knows which letters represent some of them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide dual language books and read them with all children, to raise awareness of different scripts. Try to match dual language books to languages spoken by families in the setting.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)