Use your face to connect
6–12 monthsFamily ConnectionNo materials needed
Get close to your baby's face and make eye contact. Show different gentle expressions and watch how they respond. When you look happy, see if they smile. When you look calm and peaceful, notice if they settle. This face-to-face time helps your baby learn to read emotions in others. It's one of the first steps in developing empathy and emotional awareness.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Get close to your baby's face and make eye contact. Show different gentle expressions and watch how they respond. When you look happy, see if they smile. When you look calm and peaceful, notice if they settle. This face-to-face time helps your baby learn to read emotions in others. It's one of the first steps in developing empathy and emotional awareness.
Why It Works
Face-to-face interaction teaches babies to recognize and respond to emotions, which is the beginning of emotional intelligence. When babies experience consistent empathetic responses through facial expressions, they develop the capacity to understand and share feelings (Hoffman, 2000). Research shows that recognizing and responding sensitively to emotions predicts stronger empathy and better relationship quality throughout development (Eisenberg et al., 2015).
Tips for Parents
Position yourself about eight to 12 inches from your baby's face, which is their best focus distance.
Follow your baby's lead. If they look away, give them a moment before trying again.
This works well during quiet moments together, not when they're very hungry or tired.
Materials Needed
None
Learning Methods
Responsive InteractionSensory Exploration
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