Pause and Explore the Story

1. 1

   Reading together is not about rushing to finish a book. It is about helping your child make sense of the story world and connect it with everyday life.

2. 2

   Choose a book about familiar experiences, such as daily routines, family members, or animals. Real experiences make the content easier to understand.

3. 3

   Act out what happens. If a bear hugs its mother, give your child a hug so they can experience the action too.

4. 4

   Use different voices and expressions for the characters to make the story vivid.

5. 5

   Connect the book with real life. For example, read a bedtime story and lie down to say good night together just as the characters do.

6. 6

   Your child may not understand the whole story at once. Follow their interest and revisit the same picture book so its meaning can unfold over time.

What to notice

• Acts out part of the story with you Emergent Literacy
• Repeats an action from the story when looking at the book again Memory

Tips

• Follow your child’s attention as you read. Spend longer on a favorite page, shorten your words when they are ready to turn, and move with their pace.
• When your child looks at you, makes a sound, imitates, or responds with an action, answer with words, movement, or imitation: “You noticed!” or “Let’s try it too.” This lets them participate rather than only listen.

Developmental benefits

• Language: Acting out a picture book and connecting its events with real experiences helps your baby make meaning from the story and build early literacy experience.