TinyStepper
Toddler sitting inside a cardboard box car with stuffed animal passengers

Photo Album People

Flip through photos of familiar people together — point, name, and talk about each person.

Activity details

12m–2y5 minslowindoorNo prep

Instructions

Get ready
  • Open photos of people baby knows (phone or printed album)
  • Point at the first photo: 'Look! Who's that?'
  1. Open photos of people baby knows (phone or printed album)
  2. Point at the first photo: 'Look! Who's that?'
  3. Name them with enthusiasm: 'It's NANA!'
  4. Add one detail: 'Nana gives you cuddles!'
  5. Wait — see if baby points, vocalises, or smiles
  6. Move to the next photo: 'And who's this?'
  7. End with baby's own photo: 'And that's YOU!'

Parent tip

Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.

Parent and child sitting face-to-face laughing together in a warm shared moment

What success looks like

Back-and-forth between you — words, gestures, shared pretend. Connection is the real outcome here.

Create a simple photo album (or just scroll through your phone) of people your toddler knows — Mum, Dad, Nana, Grandad, siblings, the childminder. Point at each photo and name them: 'That's Nana! Hello Nana!' Familiar people are among the first names a toddler learns, and photos bridge the gap between presence and memory. For a child missing someone who isn't there, this is the direct antidote — the picture says 'gone, but not forgotten, and they come back.'

Why it helps

Naming familiar people connects words to strong emotional associations — baby WANTS to say 'Nana' because Nana means love and cuddles. Photos also support memory and recall, helping babies understand that people exist even when not present (object permanence). Speech and Language UK recommend talking about familiar things that interest your child.

Variations

  • Print photos and put them in a small album baby can hold.
  • Add photos of pets — 'That's our cat! Meow!'
  • Look at photos after visiting someone: 'Remember? We saw Nana today!'

Safety tips

  • If using a phone, supervise closely — babies will grab and tap.
  • Board book photo albums are safer for independent handling.
  • Keep sessions short — 5 minutes is enough before attention wanders.

Want to try another?

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