#21 For All Ages

For All Ages

Grown-ups: Gently pose problems and challenges (for example, “Make a symmetric house”). If kids draw something that is not a reflection, replace the middle line with a real mirror. Ask them to trace the element again with the dominant hand, and observe what “the hand in the mirror” does – and how the mirror element looks.

Babies: Use large boards, large safe markers, large chalk, or paint brushes, drawing with the baby’s hands in yours at first. If your youngster likes playing with food, finger paint with pureed food on a tray – use a noodle as the middle line! Start with the simplest pattern – vertical lines.

Toddlers and Young Kids: Creating a circle (face) from two halves, with the symmetry line through the center, looks simple, but it is a challenging beginner puzzle. Think of simple shapes approximating symmetric objects kids love. For example, make a rocket out of a rectangle and a triangle, or a cat out of a circle and two triangles. Do the kid’s favorite letters have line symmetry?

Big Kids: Use more complex shapes with spirals (challenging to reflect) and elements of different sizes (challenging to match well with two hands). Pose goals requiring analysis and prediction: draw a square, a triangle, a right triangle.