Communication begins with imitation. Babies can imitate sticking out their tongue at only one day old. Imitation can include movements, facial expressions and eventually sounds and words. Get tips on ways you can help your little one increase their imitation skills.
Believe it or not, a great place to begin if you have concerns about your child’s communication skills is with encouraging imitation in play. Here are a few simple, but effective, games you can play with your baby to encourage this beginning stage of communication.
- Start by imitating your child and seeing if they will imitate you. Games like “so big”, clapping hands, and peekaboo lend themselves to working on imitation.
This is a great place to work on the next stage, back-and-forth of communication, which is the foundation for interactions (sometimes referred to as serve-return or circles of communication).
Additional Imitation Resources
- Find imitation hierarchy tips at ATCSpeechTheraphy.com
- Learn how to create a plan at TeachMeToTalk.com
Concerns?
If you have concerns about your child’s communication skills, we encourage you to consult your pediatrician or developmental specialist.
Questions?
Have questions or want more information? Contact your Summit DD contact for additional support or resources on sleep safety for your little one.
