Not Yet, Doing, and Done
Not Yet, Doing, and Done
Today uses three pictures to describe one event at different moments: not started yet, drawing now, and finished. These are neutral process words. They do not judge the picture or hurry the child.
Today's Approach
Amara is about 2 years and 8 months old. Keep each activity to 3–8 minutes. Looking, pointing, saying one word, staying quiet, pausing, or declining all count. Use only the poster and audio; do not ask for repetition, performance, eye contact, or touch.
A4 Teaching Picture
Open the teaching poster to download or print
Goals
- Chinese: understand “还没开始、正在画、画完了” across three sequential pictures.
- English: notice
not yet,doing, anddone. - Early maths: count one paintbrush, two boots, and three blocks with one-to-one pointing.
- Process concepts: separate a changing state from a judgement of quality.
Materials
- Only the A4 teaching picture above, printed or displayed full-screen.
- The English audio below.
- No paper, paintbrush, blocks, timer, or other object is needed.
1. Chinese Picture Talk
Time: 5–8 minutes.
Move from left to right and say, “第一幅还没开始。第二幅正在画。第三幅画完了。” Then add, “这是过程在变化，不是在说哪一幅更好。”
Amara may stay with any panel, point to a state, say “画” or “完,” stay quiet, pause, or decline. Do not ask her to predict the next step, and do not use “not yet” to imply that she is behind or wrong.
2. English Time
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Download today's English audio
Transcript: English time. Listen, look, or point. Not yet. The drawing has not started yet. Doing. The child is drawing now. Done. The picture is finished. These words tell us about a process, not how good it is. One paintbrush. Two boots. Three blocks. All done.
Play it once. A fingertip may move from left to right with the audio. Amara does not need to predict or name a stage.
| English | Chinese | Possible response |
|---|---|---|
Not yet. | 还没开始。 | Look at panel one, point, or stay quiet |
Doing. | 正在做。 | Look at the middle panel or say 画 |
Done. | 做完了。 | Look at panel three, pause, or decline |
3. Early Maths: 1, 2, 3
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Count only the separate bottom strip: one paintbrush, two boots, and three blocks. Match one number word to each complete object; ignore paint marks, laces, and block edges.
4. Process Language and Boundaries
Time: 3–5 minutes.
The adult can point across the three panels and say, “Things can look different before they begin, while they happen, and after they end.” If Amara stops midway, do not say, “You have not finished looking.” Respond, “You want to stop now. This time is done.”
Development Note
“Not yet” means something has not happened at this moment; it does not mean a lack of ability. “Done” means the current process has ended; it does not require a quality standard. Do not use countdowns, rewards, or comparisons to hurry her.
Bedtime Recall
- “The first picture has not started, the middle is happening, and the last is done.”
- “These words describe a process, not how good it is.”
- Say
Not yet. Doing. Done.once, then finish naturally.