Baby will see his own and others' reflections in a mirror by lifting his head while he lies on his tummy.
Learning Area(s): Social and Emotional; Physical Development
MATERIALS
- Handheld or wall mirror
LET'S PLAY
The ability to control head movements improves at the age of three to four months, and during this time your baby is learning to keep his head up steadily when lying on his stomach. Place your baby on his tummy on a blanket or soft surface with a mirror propped up in front of him. Lifting his head and chest to see himself in the mirror will strengthen his neck muscles. Position yourself on one side of your baby, making sure that both reflections are seen in the mirror. Encourage him to lift his head to see his reflection by calling his name and tapping lightly on the mirror. When your baby lifts his head and sees his reflection in the mirror, smile at him, and say in an animated voice, “Peekaboo, I see you!” Provide encouragement, like, “Look at you lifting your head up so high! You are so strong!”
Once your baby is looking at himself, take some time to smile and wave at him in the mirror. You can say things like, “Do you see me in the mirror? Do you see the baby in the mirror? That’s you, Jamie!” You can also sing this song (to the tune of “Frère Jacques” or “Are You Sleeping?”) as you both look in the mirror:
Hello (child’s name), hello (child’s name)!
Look at you, look at you!
You are special, you are special.
I love you, I love you.
As you look into the mirror together, point out your baby’s facial features, such as nose, mouth, eyes, ears, and hair. You can add descriptions of each feature that you name, speaking slowly to give your baby to really listen to the words you’re saying. For example, “These are your beautiful eyes. They help you see everything around you. This is your cute, little nose. It helps you smell flowers. These are your ears. They help you hear your mommy’s voice. This is your mouth. It helps you taste yummy food. All these parts make you look like you. And there’s no one else that looks just like you!” Showing your baby his reflection in the mirror also encourages curiosity, visual attention, and an awareness of himself and his body.
TIPS
- If using a handheld mirror, make sure it is one that has a curved plastic rim with no sharp corners. Use unbreakable mirrors for this activity and check them regularly for chips or cracks.
- Give your baby a chance to explore with the mirror before pointing at his facial features. He may want to put his mouth on it or turn it around a few times.
- For young babies, you can tuck a rolled towel or Boppy® type pillow under your baby’s chest to prop him up a bit and support his upper body (be sure not to obstruct the face and mouth). This makes it easier for him to hold up his head and look around.
- If your baby seems uncomfortable or begins to cry while on his tummy, you can lay him on his back (and you lie on your back next to him) and hold the mirror above to see both of your reflections.
- For older babies, you can do a variation of “peekaboo” by placing a scarf over your baby’s head. When he tugs it off, he will be looking at his face in the mirror. Peekaboo!