Enjoys looking at books and other printed material with familiar people.
Observe whether the child: enjoys looking at books and other printed material with familiar people.
What it looks like
Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.
Emerging
Just starting
Shows brief moments of enjoyment (calms, watches, smiles) when a familiar person shares a book, but engagement is short and easily disrupted. Shared attention is intermittent and may depend on strong sensory features (high-contrast pictures, textures).
What you might see
When a familiar adult offers a book, the baby turns head away or fusses within a few seconds and does not re-engage.
Shows no sustained looking at pages; gaze drifts away despite the adult pointing or using a calm voice.
Looks at a page briefly and smiles once, then quickly disengages and cannot be re-cued to look again.
Calms when the adult holds the book close, but looks only at a high-contrast image and then looks away.
Expected
On track
Enjoys short shared book moments with familiar people: looks at pages for longer, vocalises/coos, and may reach toward the book. Engagement increases when the adult follows the baby's cues (pace, pauses, pointing).
What you might see
Tracks a picture for several seconds while the adult labels it, then reaches toward the book or pats the page.
Vocalises (coos/babbles) during shared looking and pauses as if listening to the adult's voice.
Exceeding
Going further
Consistently shows enjoyment in shared book looking with familiar people: sustains gaze, smiles, vocalises, and re-engages after small breaks. Uses clear signals to continue (leaning in, reaching, excited sounds) and participates in turn-taking sounds/gestures.
What you might see
Looks back and forth between the adult's face and the page and smiles or vocalises to continue the interaction.
Reaches for the book when the adult pauses, indicating "more" or continued interest.
Shows excitement when a familiar adult picks up a book (kicks, squeals, reaches) and leans in to look.
Turns toward a familiar adult and then toward the book repeatedly, maintaining shared attention for longer stretches.
Try this at home
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
During a calm moment (after feed or before nap), sit close and show one page at a time. Notice whether your baby looks at the page and then back to you (shared attention).
At bedtime, use a short, familiar book routine. Notice whether your baby shows enjoyment signals (smiling, cooing, leaning in) when you begin.
During tummy time, place a simple picture book in view and join your baby in looking. Notice whether your baby stays engaged longer when you label and pause.
After bath, try a textured or high-contrast book with a familiar voice. Notice whether your baby reaches/pats the page to keep it going.
In a transition (nappy change), show a small printed item (photo card/book). Notice whether your baby calms and attends more when a familiar person shares it.
Where this comes from
The framework source and supporting developmental research.
Framework source
Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage (Development Matters 2012 / DM2012), Literacy: Reading, birth-11 months.
The construct is DM2012's observable for early shared book experiences with familiar adults as part of early communication and emergent literacy routines.
Developmental research
Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation. Lawrence Erlbaum.
Enjoyment in shared routines with familiar caregivers is grounded in early caregiver–infant interaction patterns that support shared attention and responsiveness during book looking.
Five-level rubric (detailed)ShowHide
The full progression underlying the three levels above. Used by the platform’s reasoning agent when planning activities and observations.
Not Yet
Does not show enjoyment of shared looking at books/printed material with familiar people; may turn away, fuss, or disengage quickly. Limited shared attention to pictures or pages, even when the adult is calm and responsive.
When a familiar adult offers a book, the baby turns head away or fusses within a few seconds and does not re-engage.
Shows no sustained looking at pages; gaze drifts away despite the adult pointing or using a calm voice.
Emerging
Shows brief moments of enjoyment (calms, watches, smiles) when a familiar person shares a book, but engagement is short and easily disrupted. Shared attention is intermittent and may depend on strong sensory features (high-contrast pictures, textures).
Looks at a page briefly and smiles once, then quickly disengages and cannot be re-cued to look again.
Calms when the adult holds the book close, but looks only at a high-contrast image and then looks away.
Developing
Enjoys short shared book moments with familiar people: looks at pages for longer, vocalises/coos, and may reach toward the book. Engagement increases when the adult follows the baby's cues (pace, pauses, pointing).
Tracks a picture for several seconds while the adult labels it, then reaches toward the book or pats the page.
Vocalises (coos/babbles) during shared looking and pauses as if listening to the adult's voice.
Secure
Consistently shows enjoyment in shared book looking with familiar people: sustains gaze, smiles, vocalises, and re-engages after small breaks. Uses clear signals to continue (leaning in, reaching, excited sounds) and participates in turn-taking sounds/gestures.
Looks back and forth between the adult's face and the page and smiles or vocalises to continue the interaction.
Reaches for the book when the adult pauses, indicating "more" or continued interest.
Reflexive
Initiates shared book looking by signalling for the book or bringing attention to it (reaching, patting, excited vocalising when book appears). Actively shares attention between the book and the familiar person (looks back and forth) and shows preferences for certain books/pages.
Shows excitement when a familiar adult picks up a book (kicks, squeals, reaches) and leans in to look.
Turns toward a familiar adult and then toward the book repeatedly, maintaining shared attention for longer stretches.
