Why babies imitating gestures is a good sign of growth

Actress Olivia Munn recently shared an adorable video on Instagram of herself and John Mulaney’s baby boy, Malcom, sitting on the couch doing a parody Mulaney gesture. Neither father nor son seemed to notice what was happening, as the mirror image appeared to be unconscious.

“Malcolm has been doing this since he was 10 months old, but this is the first time I’ve captured it,” Munn wrote in the video’s caption.

The video prompted many commenters to share their observations of children imitating them at different stages. This raises an interesting question about nature versus nurture: Do children’s motor skills actually develop through imitation, or does it have more to do with genetics?

How imitation happens and what it means

A 2023 study explains that the cultural and social process of becoming human relies heavily on imitation—babies imitate the behaviors of their caregivers as a way of learning. Research shows that mutual imitation between parents and children is a sign of communication, which helps form a connection between how children feel/behave and what they see.

Imitation is a basic learning mechanism that helps babies develop new Abilities and habits are an important aspect of their development.

“Babies are highly observant from an early age, and they naturally look to their parents for guidance on how to interact with the outside world.”

Kress described children’s tendency to repeat what they see, rather than just imitating actions; it also allows them to connect socially and emotionally with their caregivers. “The act of imitation strengthens the bond between parent and child, establishing a sense of stability and attachment necessary for normal growth,” she said.

She went on to explain how the tendency to imitate is ingrained in babies’ brains, and that mirror neurons play an important role in babies’ brains.

“These neurons fire not only when babies perform an action, but also when they observe others performing the same action,” she said. “This neural mechanism allows babies to learn by observing and then copying behaviors, even before they fully understand the purpose of those behaviors. For example, when babies see their parents waving or clapping, they may try to do the same thing even though they The social context of these behaviors has not yet been grasped.

According to Kress, imitation is a precursor to more complex forms of learning, including language development, social interaction and problem-solving skills. By imitating facial expressions, gestures, and ultimately speech, babies lay the foundation for effective communication.

“This process is not only about learning specific actions, but also about understanding the intentions and emotions behind these actions,” Kress emphasized. “In this way, imitation becomes a gateway to developing empathy and social cognition, which are critical for emotional and social well-being later in life.”

stage of imitation in children

Children often begin imitating their parents from a young age, and some forms of imitation can be observed even in newborns, Kress said.

“Babies as young as a few weeks old may imitate facial expressions, such as sticking out their tongue or opening their mouth when they see an adult doing the same thing,” she explains. “By about 6 to 8 months of age, babies begin to participate. Engage in more purposeful imitation, such as imitating gestures or sounds, which is often an attempt to communicate or interact with the parent in a more engaged way.

As babies approach their first year, their ability to imitate becomes more refined and intentional, Kress said. At this stage, they begin to copy more complex behaviors such as clapping, waving, and even try to imitate simple words and sounds.

“These imitative behaviors are not just random; they are random. They are often dedicated to achieving a specific goal, such as gaining a parent’s attention or eliciting a response from a parent,” Kress noted. “Imitation at this stage is cognitive. A clear sign of development because it shows that children are beginning to understand that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between their actions and the reactions they cause.

When children reach 18 to 24 months of age, imitation becomes a central aspect of their learning and exploration of the world.

“At this stage, children not only imitate their parents’ behaviors, but also begin to incorporate these behaviors into their own play and daily life,” Kress explains. “This is also when they begin to imitate more complex behavioral sequences, such as pretending to cook, clean, or talk on the phone, reflecting their growing understanding of social roles and daily activities.”

Imitation is influenced by both nature and nurture

The interconnection between nurture and nature is evident in how babies imitate their parents, Kress observed. In her view, although the ability to imitate is rooted in innateness, the specific way it is expressed is largely determined by nurture. This means that while the ability to imitate may be biologically determined, the content of the imitation is heavily influenced by the child’s surrounding environment.

On the one hand, the tendency to imitate can be viewed as a natural biological quality built into the human brain.

“Mirror neurons confirm this, showing that humans are biologically predisposed to learn through imitation,” Kress said. “This ability to imitate is a common element of human development and can be observed across nations and societies. This means it is a natural part of our species’ evolution.

On the other hand, parenting affects how, when, and what children imitate.

She pointed out: “The environment in which children grow up, including the behaviors and behaviors they are exposed to, has a significant impact on their imitation behavior.” Diverse facial expressions and rich verbal communication are more likely to develop complex imitation abilities.

So while imitation may be endearing in itself when a child is young and developing, it is not hereditary in the sense that it is passed down as a specific trait. The potential for learning through imitation is a fundamental part of human nature, shaped and guided by the nurturing environment provided by caregivers.