Picture Walk
Here's What To Do
1
Choose a board book to read that has only pictures or just a few words.
2
Read the title and describe what's inside the book.
3
Continue reading the book, describing what you see in each picture or making up a simple story to go with the pictures.
4
Ask and answer your own questions about what's going on in the book.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Snuggle with your baby in a cozy reading spot.
E
Engage:
- "This is a picture of a baby laughing. She's playing a peekaboo game, just like you like to!"
- "What sounds do lions make? They ROAR!"
E
Encourage:
- Take cues from your baby: if they babble at a page, imitate their sound and then wait for them to reply with another sound.
- Your child may also want to chew on the book or lick the page- that's expected! Talk about what they're doing: "You're licking the picture of the happy little boy!"
R
Reflect:
- Tell your baby your favorite picture in the book. Describe what you think was your baby's favorite page based on their cues.
Not quite ready?
Young babies may not look at the book very much, and older babies may only sit through a few pages before they lose interest. That's okay! You're helping them learn how to enjoy books.
Ready for more?
Let your older baby "read" the book on their own by looking at it and practicing turning the pages.
As your child masters this skill...
They will begin to engage with books more and more as they grow.