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/her. When your child repeats an expression or movement, always name what he/she 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.