Imitation

Materials You Need: None.    

What You Can Do Together: For this activity, you may use all the free moments when you are face to face with your child - such as changing diapers, etc. Attract your child's attention by asking "What kind of face does a … have?" and then make a specific facial expression, for example like a fish: suck in your cheeks and move your pursed lips like a fish or, for example, like a bunny: twitch your nose like a bunny… There can also be different facial expressions - angry, sad, scared but also head movements – nodding, turning the head from side to side, hand movements - patting, waving… Wait for your child to look at your action long enough and try to imitate it. Be patient and repeat a movement or facial expression. Give your child a short instruction she can understand - "Come on, you try it!" or (if your child is a bit older), "Can you open your mouth like a fish? Let me see!" and thereby encourage him. When your child repeats an expression or movement, always name what he did, because in that way you will encourage speech development. You should also imitate your child’s movements or expressions and give them a name. 

What Your Child is Learning: You will be helping your child to follow very simple directions, an important step in the development of your child's thinking, speech development, and socio-emotional development.