Picture-Card Scavenger Hunt

1. 1

   Gather two or three objects your baby knows, along with matching picture cards—for example, a bottle and a spoon. Hold up one card beside its object and say with a smile, “Look—a bottle!”

2. 2

   After showing all the pairs once, hold up one card, name it, and ask, “Where’s the bottle?” Encourage your baby to look toward or point to the matching object.

3. 3

   When your baby finds it, place the card beside the object and respond warmly: “Yes, that’s the bottle. You drink milk from it.”

4. 4

   If your baby chooses something else, name that object first: “That’s the spoon. We’re looking for the bottle.” Then show the bottle and its card together again.

5. 5

   Choose another picture card and keep matching the cards to the objects together.

What to notice

• Looks at the matching picture after hearing a familiar name Emergent Literacy
• Looks at you happily after finding the item Relationships with Adults

Tips

• Begin with objects your baby sees and uses often. Familiar items make the matching game easier to join.
• You can also keep a picture card near its matching object. During the day, point to the picture and the object and say the name together.

Developmental benefits

• Language: Looking at a picture card, hearing its name, and finding the matching object helps your baby connect an image with something in the real world.