Family photo book Activity

Put together a book of familiar faces for baby.

Why do it?

Baby is learning that some people are familiar and some are not.
Baby takes their cues about new people from watching the reactions of family members they know and trust.
When whānau point to someone in a photo book and say, ‘There’s Koro’, baby is learning to point too, and will eventually copy it.
When whānau turn the page and say, ‘Turn the page’, baby will be listening and learning. One day baby will hear ‘turn the page’ and will do it — then whānau know that baby understands.

Sit with baby on your knee and hold the book of family photographs where you both can see it.
Say, ‘Look! Here’s Mama!’ and point.
Let baby explore the book in any order they choose, and use ‘parallel talk’ to describe what baby can see and what baby is doing. Watch baby’s face for a reaction.
Keep pointing at and naming people in the book.
Say, for example, ‘Where’s Nanny?’ Watch and wait for the time when, in reply, baby looks or points to the right person in the book (or to the real person, if they’re around). Then you’ll know that baby understands what you’ve asked.

Whānau	Family group
Whakaahua	Photo
Puka emi whakaahua	Photo album
Whanaungatanga	Relationship, sense of family connection
Māmā, whaea	Mother
Pāpā, matua	Father
Tungāne	Brother of a girl
Tuahine	Sister of a boy
Tuakana	Older sibling/cousin of the same gender
Teina	Younger sibling/cousin of the same gender
Kuia, tāne	Grandmother
Tupuna wahine	Female ancestor, grandfather, great grandfather
Koro, pōua	Grandfather
Tupuna tāne	Male ancestor, grandfather, great grandfather
Whaea kēkē	Aunty
Matua kēkē	Uncle
Mātāmua	Eldest child
Pōtiki	Youngest child
Piripoho	Newborn, breastfeeding baby
Titiro mai, ko wai tēnei?	Look here, who is this?
Ko Amiria tēnei	This is Amiria
Titiro ki a māmā	Look here's mana
Kei te aha a Kahukura?	What is Kahukura doing?
Kei te kaukau a Kahukura	Kahukura is swimming
Titiro ki te rākau Kirihimete	Look at the Christmas tree