Remember to build daily routines around read-aloud time. This book would be a good choice before going outside or after taking a walk.  

Add movement and drama during reading time. Choose a time to read this book when your child can be active and playful, and where he can play the part of the boy or the animals.

Letter Knowledge

Read the title of the book and bring the letter Ww to your child’s attention. You might say:

“The title of the story is I Went Walking. Look, I see the letter W. If you see a letter W wave your arms in the air.”

Oral Language

Remember to look at the pictures on the front and back cover to help your child think about what might happen in the story. Acknowledge and accept any attempts your child makes to answer your questions. For example, you might say:

“What do you think the boy in this story is going to do? I bet he is going to go for a walk. What animal is following him? That’s right, a duck. Have you ever had a duck follow you on a walk?”

Oral Language

Relate this story to your own child’s experience. You may say, for example:

“You have a jacket like the boy in the book! You wear it when it is cold outside.

The little boy has a cat just like we do. What is the name of our cat?

Oh, there’s a duck! Do you remember when we fed the ducks? We fed them at the pond.”

Once the words on a page become familiar, pause and wait to see if your child will finish a sentence. Read the sentence but stop before the last word or last few words. Wait one to two seconds and then say the words that finish the sentence. Pretty soon your child will begin to say the words with you.

Ask questions that encourage more than yes or no answers. Ask questions about the animals, the colors you see, where they might be going or anything of interest your child seems to be focusing on. Story time is a great time to encourage your child to ask you questions too.

Don’t be concerned if your child cannot answer the questions. You can ask the questions, wait several seconds to see if your child responds, and then provide the answer. You are modeling for your child what a question-and-answer dialogue sounds like. Over time, as your child hears more questions and answers, she will begin to answer questions spontaneously.  

Discover more recommended books for toddlers, or browse easy at-home activities. 

Phonological Awareness

Create a game where you change the words in the story from walking to a different movement such as marching, jumping or hopping. Say the words to the rhyme in a rhythmic pattern and move to the beat. For example, march in rhythm to the words, “We went marching.” Continue to march and place your hand over your eyebrows as if to be looking for something. Ask your child:

“What did I see?”

Take turns saying what you see, for example:

“I saw a cat looking at me!”

Beginning Writing

Provide “scribble time” when your toddler can practice his fine motor skills through drawing. Provide unlined paper and crayons or markers that match the colors of the animals from the story (black cat, brown horse, red cow, green duck, pink pig, yellow dog). Invite your child to draw a picture of something he might see on a walk.

More to Do

Sing Old McDonald Had A Farm with your toddler, using the animals from the book.

Visit a place that has animals. It can be as simple as a friend with a pet you do not have, the pet store, a farm or the zoo.  

Find an animal or animals that your child is attracted to. Get more information on the animals through books from the library or looking it up online.

Learn more about pre-reading skills in toddlers, and explore easy at-home activities to strengthen them.