#05 For All Ages

For All Ages

Grown-ups: Find finger positions and interesting movements that challenge children. Help kids who get confused by mimicking them in return, or gently positioning their limbs with your hands. Ponder why some motions are harder to mimic than others.

Babies: Let your baby lead. Follow by mirroring the baby’s gestures and facial expressions. Holding the baby in your lap, mirror someone else’s gestures by moving baby’s hands or feet.

Toddlers and Young Kids: Offer whole body or limb movements, rather than fine gestures. Help with more challenging movements by positioning your child. You can also help by telling the story of your movements using math words: up/down, forward/backward, front/back, perpendicular, across, and so on. Avoid using “left/right” because it confuses in the context of mirrors.

Big Kids: Try more complicated movements – for example, rub your tummy and pat your head. Experiment with friends using two or more “mirrors” (that is, lines of symmetry).