Now that your toddler is in a phase where they can move around on their own more, their world will drastically expand which will create tons of new possibilities for social interactions and social learning. One of the ways through which your little one is learning is imitation. You may have already noticed that they have started to imitate the actions, gestures, and sounds of those around them. This natural instinct to mimic others is not onlya very cute and amusing thing for us adults to see (check out the video at the bottom of this article), but a fundamental mechanism through which toddlers learn about their world and acquire new skills.
Imitation aids social and emotional connection
Imitation plays a vital role in the development of social connections for toddlers. By imitating their caregivers, siblings, and peers, children establish a sense of belonging and build bonds with others. Through imitation, toddlers learn social norms, values, and behaviors that shape their interactions within their family and wider community. Imitation allows toddlers to not only mimic physical actions but also observe and imitate the emotional expressions and social behaviors of others. By imitating the facial expressions, gestures, and emotional responses of those around them, toddlers develop a deeper understanding of emotions and social cues. This understanding lays the foundation for empathy, social awareness, and effective communication.
Imitation helps to build knowledge and thinking abilities
Imitation has been linked to the development of cognitive skills in toddlers. By imitating problem-solving strategies, and play behaviours, children acquire new knowledge and expand their mental abilities. Through observation and imitation, toddlers learn how to solve puzzles and problems, use objects in creative ways, and engage in symbolic play.
How can I encourage my child’s learning by imitation?
As parents and caregivers, there are several ways to foster and encourage imitation in toddlers:
Be a positive role model: Demonstrate desirable behaviours, manners, and language that you want your child to imitate.
Provide opportunities for imitation: Engage in activities with your toddler that involve actions, gestures, and vocalizations, allowing them to observe and imitate you or others.
Encourage pretend play: Pretend play offers opportunities for toddlers to imitate different roles and engage in imaginative scenarios, fostering creativity and social learning.
Celebrate and reinforce imitation: Offer praise and encouragement when your toddler imitates positive behaviors or achieves milestones. This will reinforce their learning process.
To see an inspiring example of how imitation empowers toddlers to learn and grow socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically take a look at the video below where a toddler works very hard to imitate Freddy Mercury!