0mo–11mo7 minQuiet timeFamily timeSelf-care
Baby Signals Photo Chat
A short, calm routine where you shows a few photos of babies communicating (smiling, looking, reaching) and narrates what they might be saying, then pauses to notice how your child attends and responds.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 3–5 photographs of babies or familiar family photos on a phone (anything that shows faces/expressions)
- a comfortable place to sit with your child (lap, floor cushion, or chair)
Nice to have
- a small photo album or a few printed photos
- a soft cloth to wipe the phone screen
- tape or a magnet to place a photo at your child’s eye level (supervised)
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
- MilestoneResponds emotionally to othersHeart· 1mo–13mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneResponds to a speaking personHeart· 0mo–14mo· stretch
- MilestoneDeveloping the ability to follow others’ body language, including pointing and gesture.Mind· 10mo–15mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneLooks at a speaking caregiverMind· 1mo–6mo· core
- MilestoneAlerts or calms to speechMind· 0mo–4mo· core
- MilestoneResponds to own nameMind· 6mo–10mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneVocalizes back during interactionHeart· 2mo–8mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneReciprocal social smileHeart· 1mo–4mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneFollows visually supported instructionsMind· 8mo–18mo· core· Step 4
What it practices
- Quietens or alerts to the sound of speech.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
- Listens to, distinguishes and responds to intonations and sounds of voices.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Turns toward a familiar sound then locates range of sounds with accuracy.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Display photographs showing how young babies communicate.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)