Table 1 Intervention sessions

1

Introduction and getting started (using “Vi går på Babyrytmik” by Moa Eriksson Sandberg & Erik Sandberg). The benefits of book sharing to children’s development are presented. The key principles of book sharing are introduced and the caregiver is encouraged to engage the child actively with the book, to facilitate the child’s handling of the book, to help the child to turn pages and steady the book, to follow the child’s cues and interest, to praise the child, to have fun together, and to support their child. The importance of establishing a book sharing routine is emphasized.

2

Engaging your child and supporting their language (using “Trycka knappen & Bilen säger brum” by Lotta Olsson & Charlotte Ramel). The caregiver is encouraged to point and name objects, characters and actions in the child’s visual field, indexed by the child’s looking, banging, scratching or pointing; the caregiver is encouraged to respond by naming the object. The caregiver is encouraged to engage their child in the book by using a lively voice and by responding in a positive way to the child’s attempt to communicate. The caregiver is encouraged to repeat words and to make links between the book’s content and “the here and now” by using actions and enacting (e.g., moving their hand up and down to animate the banging on a drum) to facilitate learning.

3

Linking, enacting, inviting and building (using “Var är Babbas saker?” by Anneli Tisell & Iréne Johansson). The caregiver is encouraged to use “where” style questions for words that the child understands and to use “what” and “who” style questions for words the child can say (e.g., “Where is the dog?”, “What is this?”). The caregiver is encouraged to enrich the content of the pictures in the book based on what the child knows (e.g., elaborate what is on the page to the child’s wider experiences, such as the picture cat is “just like our neighbor’s cat”).

4

Making links to everyday life, talking about feelings (using “Vem är arg?” by Stina Wirsén). The caregiver is encouraged to identify characters’ feelings by pointing and naming facial expressions, by asking “wh-” style questions in relation to emotions, and to talk about the book characters feelings. The caregiver is encouraged to make links between the emotional content in the book and the child’s experiences in everyday life.

5

Key points and going forward (using “Katt kan hela dagen” by Sanna Töringe & Kristina Digman). In this session, the key points of the book sharing program were summarized. The facilitator and participants discussed how to continue with book sharing and maintain a routine and how to use book sharing techniques (e.g., following the child’s lead, pointing and naming, engaging the child) during play.