Skip to main content

Table 1 Summary of intervention session content

From: The Benefits of Early Book Sharing (BEBS) for child cognitive and socio-emotional development in South Africa: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Session

Session content

1

Introduction to Book-sharing

Introduction and basic dialogic book-sharing skills part 1 – following the child’s lead, using a lively voice, setting up book-sharing routines

2

Pointing and Naming

Basic dialogic book-sharing skills part 2 – pointing and naming, repeating, extending and elaborating on things that interest the child, finding opportunities for praise

3

Naming and Linking

Asking ‘where/who/what’ questions, linking book content to the child’s own experience, finding opportunities to use actions (e.g. hugging, eating)

4

Talking about Feelings

Helping the child understand the meaning of basic emotion terms: happy, sad, angry, scared. Discussing why book characters feel the way they do, using facial expression and tone of voice to convey a character’s feelings, linking feelings to the child’s own experience

5

Talking about Intentions

Discussing why characters feel the way they do, asking what characters are thinking and intending, encouraging the child to be curious about what will come next in the story

6

Talking about Perspectives

Helping the child understand that different people can see things differently, know different things, and feel differently about things

7

Summary

Reviews of key principles from sessions 1–6

8

Graduation Event

Certificates of completion are presented to participants along with summary take-home cards and a full set of the 6 books (from sessions 1–6). A group discussion about how to remain motivated about book-sharing and how to access children’s books (e.g. registering with the local library).