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A toddler stepping onto a picture card on the floor while a grown-up points to the next island in a living room.
LiteracyFollow One StepIndoor

Picture Jump Islands.

A quick picture-and-movement game where your child listens for one familiar word and moves to the matching floor island.

Play time
5-10+ min
Age
1-3 years
Energy
Medium
Mess
No
Effort
Low
Where
Indoor
Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort
3 things

What you need

  • 2 to 4 familiar pictures
  • 2 to 4 pieces of card
  • tape, glue, or another simple way to attach the pictures and keep the islands flat
5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Attach one familiar picture to each piece of card.
Step 02
Put 2 to 4 picture islands on the floor in one open room, leaving enough space for your child to step or do a small jump between them.
Step 03
Stand where your child can see all of the islands, then point to each one and name it once before you start.
"Find it."
The loop

How play unfolds.

Four panels showing a grown-up laying out picture islands, naming one card, a toddler stepping to the matching picture, and the next island cue starting another turn.
  1. 01
    Point to one island, say its picture name, and model the first move if needed.
  2. 02
    Let your child find the matching island and step or jump onto it.
  3. 03
    Name the next island as soon as your child lands or stands still.
  4. 04
    Keep the same hear-and-move loop going until your child is done.

Safety Check

  • Keep the floor space clear so your child does not bump into furniture while moving between islands.
  • Keep the picture islands flat so edges do not curl up under little feet.
  • Stay close if your child still mouths paper or gets too fast on the turns.
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
"Jump to the car."
Level 2 (Keep going)
"Now find the book."
Level 3 (Stretch)
"Ready for the next island?"
Level 4 (Extend)
"Let's do all the islands."
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You found the train."
Add
Name the next picture right away so the rhythm stays moving.
Extend
Pause a beat before the next cue so your child scans first.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Let your child step instead of jump on every turn.
  • -Keep the same 2 islands for the whole round.
  • -Use pictures your child already knows well.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Add a third or fourth island after the first few easy turns.
  • +Wait longer before pointing so your child searches with their eyes first.
  • +Let your child choose whether to jump or march to the next island.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Start with 2 favorite pictures and do 2 quick model turns yourself.
If you see
If child misuses it
Reduce the game to 2 islands and stand near the correct one while you say the picture name again.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Let your child step instead of jump and point once to the matching island as they move.
Skill spotlight
Follow One-Step Directions

Following one spoken direction and moving to the right target

This helps your child take in a short spoken cue, connect it to the right target, and act on it with their body during a simple shared game.

  • •Early. Your child may watch your feet first, wait for a point, or step onto the nearest island instead of the named one.
  • •Later. Your child hears the picture name, moves to the right island quickly, and stays ready for the next cue.
  • •Middle. Your child starts checking the pictures before moving and gets more of the named islands right with small reminders.
Real-world transfer
  • Following a short spoken direction in play or daily routines
  • Matching a spoken word to the right picture or object
  • Pausing and restarting inside a shared game
Back to library
Keep playing

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