Puppet Imitation Play
Parent uses puppets or stuffed animals to make funny faces and voices, encouraging baby to imitate facial expressions and actions. The agent coaches the parent to observe imitation attempts, object permanence understanding, and social engagement during playful interaction — building early cognitive skills through mirroring and pretend play.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Parent and baby sitting face-to-face on floor or comfortable surface. Have 1-2 puppets or stuffed animals with expressive faces nearby. Ensure baby is alert and in a playful mood.
How it works
- 1~30s
Take one puppet and bring it close to your face. Make a really exaggerated happy face with the puppet — big smile, wide eyes. Then make the same happy face yourself without the puppet. Look at your child and say 'Can you smile like this?' Watch their face closely. Does your child try to copy your smile or the puppet's expression? Even a little mouth movement or eye widening counts! Tell me what you see.
Watch for: Baby attempts to imitate a facial expression shown by parent or puppet.
- 2~35s
Now let's try action imitation. Make the puppet nod its head up and down, then do the same nodding motion yourself. Next, make the puppet shake side to side like saying 'no.' Demonstrate this too. Watch your child's response. Does they try to copy the head movements? Even a little wobble or tilt counts as an attempt. You can also try making the puppet 'dance' with simple bobbing motions.
Watch for: Baby attempts to imitate simple physical actions demonstrated by parent or puppet.
- 3~40s
Now let's play a hiding game. Hold up the puppet and say 'Hello your child!' Then hide it completely behind your back. Look surprised and say 'Where did the puppet go?' Wait 3-4 seconds, then bring it back with a cheerful 'Here it is!' Watch your child's eyes and reactions. Does they look toward where the puppet disappeared? Does they seem to remember it still exists even when hidden?
Watch for: Baby shows awareness that objects continue to exist when hidden by looking toward hiding place or showing anticipation.