TinyStepper
Child sorting colourful blocks into matching bowls at a table

Point and Name the Pictures

Sit with a picture book and let your child point at objects while you name them clearly and slowly.

Activity details

12m–2y5 minslowindoorNo prepPicture Books

Instructions

Get ready
  • Choose a board book with clear, simple pictures — one object per page works best for early walkers.
  • Sit your child on your lap or beside you, holding the book together.
  1. Choose a board book with clear, simple pictures — one object per page works best for early walkers.
  2. Sit your child on your lap or beside you, holding the book together.
  3. Let them open the book and point at whatever catches their eye.
  4. Name what they point at slowly and clearly: 'Cat. That is a cat.'
  5. Pause and wait 3-5 seconds — they may try to repeat the word or point again.
  6. If they say something (even a babble), respond warmly: 'Yes! Cat!'
  7. Follow their pace — if they want to turn the page quickly, let them lead.
  8. After a few pages, try asking: 'Where is the dog?' and see if they can point to it.

Parent tip

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

Toddler at a table with a completed puzzle and neatly sorted blocks in a bright aha moment

What success looks like

Intense focus, even briefly. Watch for the small ‘aha’ moment when they figure out how something works.

Your child leads the reading by pointing at pictures in a board book. You name each one clearly, pause, and wait for them to attempt the word or point to the next thing. This simple, responsive exchange — point, name, repeat — builds the word-to-image connections that are the foundation of reading.

Why it helps

Responsive naming — where an adult labels what a child is already attending to — is the most effective way to build early vocabulary. Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children who experience regular shared book interactions before age two develop vocabularies up to 40% larger than peers who do not. The pointing itself is a proto-literacy skill: it shows the child understands that pictures represent real things.

Variations

  • Use a book with flaps or textures — lifting a flap adds a cause-and-effect element to the naming game.
  • Try it with a family photo album instead — 'Who is that? That is Nana!' builds personal vocabulary.
  • Point at real objects in the room after closing the book: 'We saw a cup in the book — where is YOUR cup?'

Safety tips

  • Use board books with rounded edges for children who may grab and mouth the pages.
  • Let the child hold and handle the book — building a positive physical relationship with books matters.
  • Keep sessions short (5 minutes) — if they lose interest, stop. Forced reading creates negative associations.

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