That's Me!
4 ways to use a mirror to help your baby learn about himself
What you need:
• Unbreakable mirror
What to do:
1.1 to 3 months: Place an unbreakable mirror on the side of your baby's crib, so he can turn and gaze into it. Ask, "Who is that beautiful baby in the mirror?" Say, "It's Teddy!"
2. 3 to 6 months: Sit baby in your lap, facing away from you so you can both see each other in the mirror. Playfully stick out your tongue to see if he'll imitate you. Hold his hands and touch them to the different parts of his face. Say, "This is your nose. This is your ear." Then touch your own face.
3. 6 to 12 months: Hold baby's favorite stuffed animal or doll so that he can see it and his own reflection in the mirror. Move the toy around and make it talk. This will build his observation skills. Ask, "Where is Blue Bear?"
4. 9 to 18 months: See if baby recognizes his "personhood" by reaching out to touch his face in the mirror — he might even lean forward to kiss the baby in the mirror. By 18 months, he may be able to point to a spot of lipstick placed on his forehead — a sign of more sophisticated awareness.
Learning benefits:
• promotes self-awareness
• teaches observation
• encourages language development
Alice Sterling Honig, PhD, a professor emerita of child development at Syracuse University, is the author of many books on infants and toddlers, including Behavior Guidance for Infants and Toddlers and, with H. Brophy, Talking With Your Baby: Family as the First School
