All About Me Book: Identity Pages + Q&A

Infants build foundations through repetition and responsive interaction.

Objectives

Materials

Instructions

Materials

Sturdy board books (2-3 per child)

Soft, safe fabric scraps in various colours and textures

Large photos of each infant's family members

Baby safe glue sticks

Crayons

Cotton balls

Small, crinkly paper

Baby-safe scissors

Learning Objectives

Infants will visually track and respond to images of familiar family members.

Infants will engage with different textures and materials used to represent family members.

Infants will develop early fine motor skills through grasping and touching book elements.

Infants will show an awareness of their own identity through interaction with the book.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Gather infants in a quiet, comfortable space, perhaps on soft mats.

2. Introduce the board books, explaining that these are "All About You and Your Family" books.

3. Open a book and point to a large photo of an infant’s family member, clearly stating their name and relationship, e.g., "This is Grandma!"

4. Gently guide the infant's hand to touch the photo and then the fabric scraps glued around it, saying, "Grandma has soft hands, like this fabric."

5. Invite infants to touch different textures and materials while you describe them and relate them to family members or home. "This soft cotton is like a cozy blanket at home."

6. Allow supervised exploration of the books. Encourage reaching, patting, and babbling in response to the images and textures.

7. If an infant shows interest, you can let them try to "glue" a cotton ball themselves with a baby safe glue stick.

8. Throughout the activity, narrate the infant's actions and the images, reinforcing family connections and the concept of "me."

Educator Tip

Keep book sessions short and engaging, following the infant's lead. Ensure all materials are non-toxic and too large to be a choking hazard. For mobile infants, ensure the activity space is safe for exploration. You can also invite families to contribute a favourite photo of their child with a family member to personalize the books further.

Assessment

Observe infants' engagement with the books. Note if they track the images with their eyes, reach out to touch the photos or textures, and vocalize or smile. Document their reactions to specific family photos and the different sensory elements incorporated into their books.

Educator tip

Keep stimulation low; follow infant cues.

Assessment

Observe and note: sustained engagement, sensory responses, early vocalisations, and attachment behaviours. Document using the Characteristics of Effective Learning framework (Playing and Exploring). Observe gaze, reach, calm engagement.

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