FM.G.98 POINTS TO SMALL FEATURES IN PICTURE BOOKS

Here we look again at the skill of pointing to pictures, introduced in FM.G.48 (pats a picture on the page).

In your Receptive Language work, you have been teaching your child to choose between different pictures, indicating his choice with a point. Here the emphasis is different; this item does not require the child to choose between alternatives, but rather to bring his pointing finger accurately to a very small feature on a page. It requires close co-ordination between hand and eye.

How to Assess

Materials: A book with detailed pictures or many small pictures to a page.

Method: Point to a picture on the page or to a small detail within a picture. Say: ‘Look, here’s the pig’s ear (or the wheel of the truck or a caterpillar on a leaf or whatever). You point to the pig’s ear.’

Score plus if your child can successfully imitate you and point correctly to the specified picture.

How to Teach

Gradually introduce your child to books with more detailed pictures.

Demonstrate pointing to small details in the pictures, always naming them, of course.

Guide your child’s hand to point, if necessary, gradually reducing your help. Give him plenty of time to respond to your directions. To begin with it may take him some time to bring his finger to the precise place that you have specified.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

Use magazines and pictures on the walls, as well as books. Using family photographs, encourage your child to point out faces that he knows. You could cut up unwanted photographs and assemble them into a collage, under self-adhesive film.

Remembering and Extending

As your child acquires the necessary Receptive Language skills, you can phase out your demonstrations and let him find details in the pictures himself. Practice in the Fine Motor skill of pointing then becomes combined with practice in the Receptive Language skill of choosing between alternatives.

Ask your child to point out details that interest him, by asking an open-ended question like ‘What can you see in this picture?’ or ‘Which picture do you like?’