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First steps

In the first of a new series, Opal Dunn considers the early stages of reading and recommends books on colour for children from birth to three Matching developing communicative needs

Matching developing communicative needs

Building up the skills to become confident picture book 'readers' can begin from the first weeks in a baby's life. By the age of three years, some children who have had a wealth of picture book experiences shared with enthusiastic adults are capable of selecting a picture book they know and enjoying it by themselves.

They enjoy 'reading' it aloud, reciting much of the text, if it is simple, or making up their own to fit the pictures, then concluding with a fitting end. Some even imitate their adult reader's comments, such as, 'Where's Maisy? Look, there she is. Sitting in the bus', as they point to Maisy in the bus.

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