My September Favourite
My September Favourite
Today we revisit three kinds of September pictures—texture, story, and safety—and make choosing completely optional.
Today's Approach
Amara is about 2 years and 5 months old. Keep each guided activity to 3–8 minutes. Looking, pointing, choosing, changing a choice, saying one word, or declining all count. A favourite is a momentary preference, not a test or permanent answer.
A4 Teaching Picture
Open the original image to download or print
How to use it
Print on portrait A4 paper with “Fit to page,” or show it full-screen. Use only the poster. Slowly name texture, story, and safety, then offer a no-pressure choice. Do not provide a real leaf, book, safety prop, or set of loose choice cards.
Goals
- Chinese: understand “触感、故事、安全、看一看、选择、说一说.”
- English: meet
texture,story,safety,look,choose, andtell. - Reflection: notice a present preference that may change or remain unspoken.
- Early math: touch exactly one leaf, two books, and three hearts in the bottom row.
- Life skill: choose, change, or decline while the adult responds warmly.
Materials
- Only the A4 teaching picture above.
- No real leaf, book, safety item, token, sticker, or reward is required.
1. Chinese Picture Talk
Time: 5–8 minutes.
- “叶脉图片让人想到触感。”
- “书让人想到故事。”
- “牵着大人的手让人想到安全。”
Offer: “今天想看哪一张？也可以不选。” Do not ask why unless Amara begins to tell.
2. English Time
Time: 3–5 minutes.
| English | 中文 | Possible response |
|---|---|---|
texture | 触感 | Point to leaf |
story | 故事 | Point to book |
safety | 安全 | Point to child and adult |
look | 看一看 | Look briefly |
choose | 选择 | Choose, change, or decline |
tell | 说一说 | Gesture, sound, or word |
Model: You may choose. You may change. No choice is okay. No repetition is required.
3. Early Math: Leaf, Books, Hearts
Time: 3–5 minutes.
- Under 1, touch the one leaf.
- Under 2, touch the two books separately.
- Under 3, touch the three hearts separately.
Do not count leaf points, book pages, people, picture cards, or upper objects.
4. Calm Action: Look and Choose
Time: 3–5 minutes while seated beside an adult.
Model looking at all three upper cards, then let one relaxed finger point—or let both hands rest. The adult does not move Amara's hand or hold the poster closer to force a choice.
5. Life Skill: Preferences Can Change
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Respond to every option with the same warmth:
- “你现在选叶子。”
- “你改选书，也可以。”
- “今天不选，也可以。”
The adult records interest privately; do not announce a winner or compare days.
Choice Is Not a Test
Do not require a favourite, ask repeatedly, demand a reason, rank pictures, display a winning choice, or attach praise, stickers, food, or privileges to choosing. Use only the poster; refusal and changing one's mind are valid.
Bedtime Recall
- “今晚想再看叶子、书还是爱心？”
Leaf, book, heart—or no choice?
Accept any response and finish without revisiting the decision.