Picture Book Point and Name

A sturdy board book with large, clear pictures of everyday objects (animals, food, toys, or faces)

Choose a board book with large, clear pictures of everyday objects.

Sit baby on your lap or prop them up so they can see the pages.

Open to the first page and point to a picture. Say the word clearly: "Dog! That's a dog."

Give baby time to look. Let them touch, pat, or mouth the book.

Add a detail: "The dog says woof woof!" Use an animated voice.

Turn the page and repeat — point, name, pause, add a detail.

If baby points or reaches toward a picture, name it immediately. This teaches them gestures have meaning.

Revisit the same book daily. By the third or fourth read, pause before naming and watch if baby looks at the right picture.

Babies understand words long before they can say them. A 9-month-old may recognize 50+ words even though they can only say one or two. Every time you name a picture, you're adding to their mental dictionary.

Don't rush through pages. One picture studied for 30 seconds is worth more than flipping through the whole book in a minute.

Board books with real photos (not illustrations) can be especially engaging for older babies who are starting to connect pictures to real life.

Let baby turn the pages if they want to, even if they skip around. Following their interest is more valuable than reading in order.