Imitation Games are Difficult but Important
Let's assume that it is difficult for your child to imitate you. This is a safe assumption because most children can and do imitate almost from birth and this is important because imitation is a primary means of learning new skills. Many important kinds of play are all about imitating things that others do whether it be cuddling a baby doll or swinging a hammer; pretending to be the Priest or pretending to be the Robber. The fact that imitating is hard for your child does not mean your child cannot learn to imitate, but special attention must be given to supporting this kind of learning. For example, it can help a child learn to imitate speech is you speak a little slower, use shorter sentences, and say things your child would like to be able to say. Go away! No! and Mine are all good examples of the kinds of words most children long to say. You can create games that will entice your child to try to learn to imitate you, if you make up games where imitating you is possible and worth the effort. It is particularly exciting if your child spontaneously imitates things that you do--that is he or she tries to imitate something because you do something that looks interesting rather than because you offer praise or a reward. Here is an example: If you show your child how to put a puzzle piece in an inset puzzle; hand-over-hand assist him or her putting a puzzle piece into a puzzle and then provide praise or a reward for the effort--this will help your child learn how to do puzzles. But all this may not increase your child's inclination to walk over and do puzzles independently because doing puzzles has become about getting a reward even if it is just praise. If on the other hand, you pick a very easy puzzle, and put several pieces in using a silly noise each time as you do it--say a dive bomber type noise or click, click, click as in the game below. You do this to make it possible for your child to imitate you (easy puzzle) and interesting (cool noise holds your child's attention) and then you leave out the last piece. At this point, if your child picks up this piece and imitates you by putting the puzzle piece in this is a powerful learning experience for your child. You respect how cool it was that he or she imitated you by letting your child focus on the satisfaction of having completed a puzzle. You would not want to interrupt and distract with praise because discovery and accomplishment need no further reward. Your child is more likely to independently do puzzles after this experience and more likely to imitate you in the future. There are literally millions of things that children learn on their own by spontaneously trying to imitate something interesting and if your child only imitates when given told to do so and rewarded, your child will miss out on all those natural learning opportunities. This is why I believe carefully thought out play is so important to developing this skill. Here are the steps I suggest:
- Do something that is very interesting.
- Do something that is very easy.
- Let your child experience imitation by imitating him or her.
- Let your child enjoy the pleasure of imitating rather than making it a chore that he or she does for reward or praise.
Popsicle Drums are Very Interesting and this Game is Easy
Imitate Your Child
Even if your child can't or does not think to imitate you, you can imitate your child. This is the easiest form of imitation game your child can experience. We often send these fabulous Lollipop drums home with families because the drums are so distinctive that it is hard for a child to resist picking one up and hitting it. The parent then does anything that the child does with the drum, including dropping a drum stick or the drum itself if that is what the child does. You can, of course, imitate your child doing anything, you don't need these drums. But your child needs to notice that you are imitating him or her. If you want this game to have a powerful impact on your child, do an imitation game every day where you imitate your child for 15 minutes or more and keep it up for several weeks. You should notice that your child becomes increasingly interested in you and everything you do and in being with you.
Even if your child can't or does not think to imitate you, you can imitate your child. This is the easiest form of imitation game your child can experience. We often send these fabulous Lollipop drums home with families because the drums are so distinctive that it is hard for a child to resist picking one up and hitting it. The parent then does anything that the child does with the drum, including dropping a drum stick or the drum itself if that is what the child does. You can, of course, imitate your child doing anything, you don't need these drums. But your child needs to notice that you are imitating him or her. If you want this game to have a powerful impact on your child, do an imitation game every day where you imitate your child for 15 minutes or more and keep it up for several weeks. You should notice that your child becomes increasingly interested in you and everything you do and in being with you.
Do Something Your Child is Able To Do In A Distinctive Way
Many children learn to do inset puzzles. If your child can do them, the Click, Click, Click game is likely to inspire imitation. It is just so distinctive to click three times and almost irresistible. In Click-Click-Click, the puzzle pieces are put in after clicking them on the table three times. If inset puzzles are too difficult for your child at this time, Click three times on the table (or High Chair Tray) with any toy that makes a good sound and then drop the toy into a can or off the table.
Many children learn to do inset puzzles. If your child can do them, the Click, Click, Click game is likely to inspire imitation. It is just so distinctive to click three times and almost irresistible. In Click-Click-Click, the puzzle pieces are put in after clicking them on the table three times. If inset puzzles are too difficult for your child at this time, Click three times on the table (or High Chair Tray) with any toy that makes a good sound and then drop the toy into a can or off the table.
A Funny Sound
I remember one little boy named Barry who did not seem to imitate me at
all when we were face to face but I put him on a high spinning stool in
front of the mirror and would spin him around and then let him choose a
mouthing toy. I had a set that was identical. He picked a toy and I
picked the same one and tried to do whatever he did with his toy. I
remember the day he popped a toy that looked like a Hamburger out of his
mouth and uttered ahhhh! I pulled my hamburger out of my mouth and
said the same thing. He looked at me in the mirror--which he was not
doing before. He put the toy back in his mouth, popped it out again
and uttered AHHHH! I imitated him and he did it again. After that, it
did not matter if I imitated him or he imitated me, he loved saying
that sound back and forth. It was our first real game.
