A first-words book can begin a conversation long before you reach the end of a page. A child might point to a swing, laugh at a character or want to know what is behind a tree. Start there.
The aim of this activity is to spend time noticing and talking together. You do not need to cover every label, finish the book or ask your child to remember a set number of words.
Let your child choose where to look
British Council guidance encourages parents to share English books regularly and let children choose what to read. That choice can be as small as deciding which picture to explore on a page you already have open.
Wait a moment before asking a question. See where your child points or looks. Name that thing, then add one simple detail if it fits: “A tree. A big tree.” A child may point again, make a sound or start a longer conversation. Give their response room.
Try a picture walk through Tiki’s park
The available inside-page preview of Tiki’s First 100 Words Book shows Tiki and friends in a park. Labels include tree, pond, slide, swing and flower. You can explore that single scene in several ways without moving on to another page.
Choose a place for a pretend picnic. Ask your child to point to where they would sit. Look for something nearby and name it together. Then imagine what Tiki should bring. A cup? A ball? Let the child add things that are not in the picture by drawing or describing them.
Connect one picture with everyday life
Choose one word from the page to notice during your next ordinary outing. If it is “tree”, look at a tree from the window or on a walk together. Does it look like the illustrated tree? What is different about its leaves, trunk or size?
You can do the same indoors with a bag, a toy or a lamp from a book’s cover. Put the real object beside its picture and talk about them. It does not have to match perfectly; the differences give you something else to notice.
Use the book at your child’s pace
For a child who is just beginning, try naming one object and leaving time to look at it. A child who wants more can describe a colour, choose between two objects or invent something a character might say. Adjust to what your child enjoys that day.
In a classroom, pairs can choose a spot in the picture and explain their choice through words, pointing or drawing. Avoid making the quickest speaker the only participant. A thoughtful look at a picture can be part of the activity too.
Explore Tiki’s First 100 Words Book
Tiki’s First 100 Words Book is a coming-soon printed title with an illustrated cover and an inside-page preview available on its product page. The cover’s age guide is 2–6; use your child’s interests and comfort to decide how you explore it together.
You can also browse Tiki’s Hide and Seek and the colouring books for more pictures to discuss. Pick the format your child is drawn to, and begin with one scene rather than a whole-book checklist.
Sources & further reading
The original research and parent guidance used in this article, with dates and context.
- English books at homeBritish Council LearnEnglish Kids · Parent guidance accessed 10 October 2026.
