Have you ever thought about how such a simple book, like “Where’s Spot?” could become a wonderful routine and engaging time with your child?”
Imagine your one-year old child opening the doors to reveal the animals as you ask, “What is it?”
As your child learns all of the names of the animals, you start to add, “Knock, Knock” before opening the door.
Then, you add, “Is this a dog?” and begin to help develop the understanding and use of YES/NO questions.
By the time a child is three, they will be able to recall, “Who was in the piano?” or even take the lead in telling the story and insist that you answer the questions.
Pretty soon, you will have an elaborate language routine that includes prepositions (“behind the door”), responding to questions (“Where is the bear?”), developing predictions (“What’s next?”), and developing humor when you tell the hippo to “get out of my piano”.
Enjoy story time with your child. Read the same book over and over again. Keep adding to it and making it more difficult. Don’t forget to laugh and get silly. These are moments that not only teach your child new skills, but form memories that will last a lifetime.