Words & communication

Retell a familiar story

Use three pictures or familiar objects to retell a well-known story in the child's own words, actions or sounds.

10 minutes

What you'll need

Familiar sturdy book · Up to three large story objects, optional

Before you start

Child can share attention to a brief story, object or spoken game in their preferred way

Best fit: either · calm energy · low caregiver effort · low mess

How to play

  1. Read or recall a familiar short story together.
  2. Arrange three pictures or objects in any order the child chooses.
  3. Follow or change that version together through words, gestures, play or a communication aid.
Make it easier

Retell just one moment with one picture and offer words when wanted.

Standard

Use three pictures or familiar objects to retell a well-known story in the child's own words, actions or sounds.

Extend it

Mix the three moments and invent another order.

What you might notice

Notice which story moments the child chooses, connects or changes rather than how accurately they retell.

Keep it safe

Check that every material is intact, age-appropriate and non-toxic. Stay nearby, keep movement at floor level, and let the child stop, simplify or change the activity.

Why it may be useful

This activity creates an easy moment for back-and-forth communication, shared attention and hearing useful words in context.

strong

Applies to caregiver-led language opportunities; it does not predict an individual child's language trajectory.

Jeong et al. (2021) — Parenting interventions to promote early child development in the first three years of life: A global systematic review and meta-analysis

Dowdall et al. (2025) — Home-based shared book reading and developmental outcomes in young children: a systematic review with meta-analyses

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