Why Silent Picture Pointing works

Use pointing and gesture as a temporary language for exploring one detailed picture together. Look at the picture quietly for several seconds. Point to one object and gesture a simple search challenge.

Set up — Look at the picture quietly for several seconds

Prepare household items before the child is asked to look at the picture quietly for several seconds. Use the result of having the child look at the picture quietly for several seconds as the setup for the move into point to one object and gesture a simple search challenge. Let comfort come first; the child may keep eyes open, move position, or stop while that starting condition is being established.

Step 2 — Point to one object and gesture a simple search challenge

Keep the pace slow while the child tries to point to one object and gesture a simple search challenge. If the effect is hard to see, simplify that action before continuing with the instruction to let the child answer only by pointing.

Step 3 — Let the child answer only by pointing

Treat the attempt to let the child answer only by pointing as a checkpoint between the earlier step to point to one object and gesture a simple search challenge and the coming step to switch roles and let the child silently set a challenge. A perfect answer is not required.

Step 4 — Switch roles and let the child silently set a challenge

After completing the instruction to switch roles and let the child silently set a challenge, pause and ask what changed from the earlier step where they had to let the child answer only by pointing. Use that answer to decide whether they are ready to talk normally afterward about one detail that was easy or difficult to find.

Step 5 — Talk normally afterward about one detail that was easy or difficult to…

Keep the adult prompt brief while the child tries to talk normally afterward about one detail that was easy or difficult to find. If needed, return to the earlier step to switch roles and let the child silently set a challenge before asking them to talk normally afterward about one detail that was easy or difficult to find.

What to notice before Talk normally afterward about one detail that was…

Keep adult commentary light while the child works toward switch roles and let the child silently set a challenge. Their own response should show whether the child notices a detail without being pushed to stay still or perform before the activity finishes with the request to talk normally afterward about one detail that was easy or difficult to find.

Make Let the child answer only by pointing easier or harder

For younger or less confident players, shorten the round and use one obvious thing to notice before the step to let the child answer only by pointing. If the child asks for more, add a second comparison, a memory check, or a child-led choice and then return to the final request to talk normally afterward about one detail that was easy or difficult to find.

Finish after Talk normally afterward about one detail that was…

Talk normally afterward about one detail that was easy or difficult to find. Finish the activity there rather than repeating the same successful cycle. For another activity, use the activity search or create one with the activity generator.