Skill· 16mo–18mo· 2 min

Read and Repeat

Parent reads a familiar book with their toddler, pausing to encourage word repetition and object naming. The agent coaches the parent to observe early vocabulary attempts, word imitation, and meaningful word use — building foundational language skills through shared reading.

Start voice activity

Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.

What you'll need

Parent and child sitting comfortably together with a familiar picture book. Choose a book with clear illustrations of common objects (animals, vehicles, household items). Environment should be calm with minimal distractions.

How it works

  1. 1~30s

    Start by opening to a page with a clear, familiar object — like a dog, ball, or car. Point to the picture and say the word clearly: 'Look, your child, it's a dog!' Then pause and wait. Watch your child's face and mouth. Does they try to say the word? You might hear an attempt like 'daw' or 'gog' — any approximation counts! Tell me what you notice.

    Watch for: Child attempts to name a pictured object with a word or word approximation.

  2. 2~35s

    Now turn to another page with a different object. This time, say the word with a slight pause before it: 'What's this? ... Car!' Use an excited, inviting tone. Then wait and watch. Does your child try to copy your word? Even if they just says the first sound like 'ca' or makes a similar mouth movement, that's imitation! What do you see or hear?

    Watch for: Child attempts to imitate a word or sound after parent says it.

  3. 3~40s

    Let's try one more page — choose something your child really loves, like a favorite animal or food. Say the word, then ask a simple question: 'Do you see the cookie?' or 'Where's the bunny?' Watch for whether your child uses the word meaningfully — not just repeating, but as if answering your question or expressing recognition. Does they say it with intention?

    Watch for: Child uses a word with clear communicative intent, not just imitation.

What this develops

Visual example

Coming soon