Copy My Face
What you need
- your lap, or a chair facing theirs
How to do it
- Sit face to face and pull one big, slow face: a wide smile, a surprised mouth or puffed-out cheeks.
- Hold it, then wait to see if they copy it.
- Copy whatever face they make back, so it turns into a game of faces.
Why it matters
Copying a face means watching closely and then making their own face muscles do the same thing, which is how toddlers learn the shapes of words and feelings.
What they're learning
- Copying
- Making their face match yours is the same copying they use to learn new sounds.
- Mouth muscles
- Puffing cheeks and making an O shape works the muscles they talk with.
- Reading faces
- Watching your face change is early practice at spotting how someone feels.
What to look for
Watch for them trying a face on their own first and waiting for you to copy it.
A tip
Go slower than you think. A face held for a few seconds gives them time to work it out.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: stick to one face, like a big smile, and do it again and again
Harder: name each face as you make it, "happy", "surprised", "sleepy", and ask them to show you one
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Quiet & calm activities · Activities for 1 year olds · Activities for 18 month olds