Simple imitation games
0–6 monthsSuccess MindsetNo materials needed
Make simple sounds or facial expressions and wait for your child to imitate. Try sticking out your tongue, opening your mouth wide, or making gentle sounds like oh or ah. Watch for your child to copy you. This back-and-forth exchange builds early cognitive skills through social learning.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Make simple sounds or facial expressions and wait for your child to imitate. Try sticking out your tongue, opening your mouth wide, or making gentle sounds like oh or ah. Watch for your child to copy you. This back-and-forth exchange builds early cognitive skills through social learning.
Why It Works
Imitation is a sophisticated cognitive skill that requires observation, memory, and motor planning. These serve-and-return interactions create the neural connections that form the foundation for learning and communication. The responsive social exchange also supports attention development. Research demonstrates that attention control and cognitive skills in early childhood make unique contributions to later academic achievement (Welsh et al., 2010).
Tips for Parents
Go slowly and give your child time to process and respond. Not every attempt will result in imitation, and that is okay.
Make it playful and enjoyable. Your warm engagement is as important as the imitation itself.
Materials Needed
None
Learning Methods
Sensory ExplorationResponsive InteractionMovement-Based Learning
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