Fantastic Phonics

Baby Mirroring is the very first method that your baby will make to communicate with you, using their facial expressions, body movements and sounds to convey how they are feeling. This is a very simple and easy way to interact with, and bond with your baby (or child). Many parents may already carry out Baby Mirroring subconsciously with their child as part of everyday play. Absolutely no resources are required and you can do this anywhere and at any time, as long as you think your child is receptive i.e. not tired or hungry etc.

Mirroring is possible with small babies, toddlers, pre talkers and even young children find it enjoyable as they are in control of the game throughout.

• Sit your baby / child facing you at roughly the same eye level, and explain that you are going to copy whatever they do. You will need to be closer to a young baby as they are only able to focus a small distance. This distance can gradually be increased as your child grows and is able to focus on faces further and further away.
• Watch your child closely and copy their every movement and expression, whether it be blinking, smiling, turning their head or moving a hand.
  
• Listen to any sounds that your child makes gurgles, coos or babbles and copy these too.  This can be extended to repeating wrods or sentences for older children.

Do not spend too long ‘mirroring’ initially as the experience may be quite intense for a small baby, a few minutes should be fine to start with, then when they are accustomed to playing the mirroring game you can gradually increase the time.

Once you have finished mirroring, change your position and snuggle up with your child, giving lots of hugs and congratulate them on playing really well. You can also tell them if you particularly enjoyed a specific face or noise that made you laugh or smile. All these interactions will, over time, give your child a sense of being able to communicate and control their surroundings, and that they can influence and alter situations if they choose to.

Mirroring is a great tool for getting Dads to form strong bonds with their baby or child. They have one-to-one time together and concentrate solely on their child. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends can also mirror, allowing your child to become very familiar with faces important to your family.

Your child will gradually become confident in leading mirroring and should gain great enjoyment from the individual attention they receive from the game. Mirroring is an ideal way to show your baby / child that you value the efforts they are making to communicate with you, after all imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Case Studies

As a new born baby on the changing mat, my son made a pursed mouth shape (as if blowing through a straw, or making a “www” sound). I mirrored this and soon he came to realise that by making this face, he could make me do the same, and consequently did it more frequently. He was very soon ‘controlling’ his elder sister, mother and father to mirror the same, and at only a few weeks old!

My daughter (age 4) found mirroring hilarious, when after finishing our meal one evening, her Dad (sitting opposite her) started to mirror her every move and word. She quickly realised that she could control what her father was saying by what she was saying, and also his facial expressions – with very interesting results. There were eyes looking sideways, turned heads and playful ‘cross’ faces followed by surprised open eyes and mouths. They had great fun in just a few spontaneous minutes and she also saw in his face exactly what she looked like!