Play and read

#play#read#book#toy

Mixing play with reading keeps interest up but requires the child to switch between the two, which is not always easy. A picture shows both parts and their order. See how the support works below.

A child reads a book while holding up a toy car.

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Play and read

A child reads a book while holding up a toy car.

About this visual support

Alternating play and reading is a nice way to keep interest up: movement and imagination mix with calm and concentration. But that very mix requires something that is not always easy for a child, namely switching between two different modes. Going from full speed in play to sitting still with a book can be a big step, and the other way around too.

Visual support makes the switch clear by showing both parts and the order they come in. When the child sees that we first play for a while and then read, the shift becomes predictable rather than a sudden interruption. The pictures help the brain prepare for the next mode, so the transition is softer and less charged.

A tip: let play and reading each have their own place in the sequence, and mark the transition with a picture, so the child knows when it is time to switch. A clear boundary makes both parts more fun. In the Routined app you can place play and reading as two steps after each other, so each gets its own time without competing.