RL.C.34 CHOOSES A PICTURE WHEN NAMED, CHOICE OF 2

RL.C.34 CHOOSES A PICTURE WHEN NAMED, CHOICE OF 2

Choosing pictures from among alternatives presents a little more challenge to the child than choosing objects. For a start, it is unlikely that she is familiar with any individual pictures, in the way that she was familiar with the objects used earlier in this sequence. The child cannot handle pictures in the same way, as they are not such a ‘real’ and concrete part of her world.

It is important that children learn to recognise and choose between pictures, not only because this extends the visual discrimination needed for more advanced learning, but also because it will enrich her play and her experience of the world around her.

You will need to give some thought to materials before you assess and teach picture selection. Here are some guidelines:

Choose pictures of objects familiar to your child. This will help her to see the relationship between picture and object (see the notes on FM.I.77).
Choose pictures that are quite large (at least 10 cm square) and easy for your child to handle. Mounting then on cardboard is a good idea, and covering them with self-adhesive clear plastic film will render them relatively child-proof
Choose pictures which are fairly realistic. You could use photographs, but clear, realistic, colour illustrations work well.
Keep in mind that you will need to vary your materials. Although you may need only a few at present, a stock of 10 or so will prove very useful.

You can draw pictures yourself, or cut them out from magazines and mount them on cardboard. One very valuable source of pictures is the Ladybird Picture Books– Series 704. These books are not expensive, and are available in many news agencies and bookshops. The first in the series (Ladybird First Picture Book) will provide plenty of pictures to start with. At Macquarie the teachers removes pages from these books, mount them on cardboard, and cover them with plastic film. Other copies are left intact for looking, pointing and talking.

For assessment and the first stages of teaching, choose pictures of 2 objects very familiar to your child – perhaps pictures of objects used earlier in this sequence.

How to Assess

Materials:2 pictures of objects known to your child.

Method: Place the pictures on the table in front of your child, or hold them up within her reach. Say ‘Point to the …’ (or ‘take’ or ‘give’). Give 3 tries for each picture, changing the positions of the pictures from time to time.

Score plus if your child selects each picture at least twice.

How to Teach

The teaching procedure is exactly the same as that for teaching object selection. Refer to RL.C. 20.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

Looking at books and pictures is especially important while teaching this skill. Look for books with large, clear pictures, showing 1 or 2 objects to a page. Books which show 2 pictures to an opening can be used for practising selection.

Remembering and Extending

As with the object selection tasks, it is a good idea to repeat the procedure with a second set of pictures once the first set has been mastered.

This skill is directly extended in RL.C.35 where the child is asked to choose between 4 pictures. You might like to give a choice of 3 as an in-between step.