Mirrors at DCM: Young Explorers

Exploring reflection has never been so much fun! At DuPage Children's Museum (DCM), visitors have many opportunities to investigate and explore using mirrors. Mirrors offer mathematical and scientific investigation as well as funny-face exploration! 

Wait! Is it just a funny face? No, early childhood experts tell us that using mirrors to explore is much more! At DCM, our youngest explorers can engage in social and emotional development by interacting with their own reflections. Much of the research in using mirrors with infants and toddlers to promote self-awareness, ego, and reading skills comes from the theory of the Mirror Stage, attributed to the works of psychiatrist Jacques Lacan. The Mirror Stage, said to be from the ages of six to eighteen months old, takes place when a child begins to recognize "self" as the image he or she sees in the mirror (Patsalides, 2012).

Mirrors are a part of each one of our Young Explorers Neighborhoods. Try these activities with your young explorer during your next visit to the Museum!

Promote Self-Identification- Say the infant's name aloud and point to the reflection in the mirror.

Imitate- Make a face in the mirror and attribute a word to the face. This teaches children how to imitate and identify feelings. 

Build Vocabulary- Name body parts as you guide the child to touch his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Practice Motor Skills- Ask the child to reach for the sky. If you model the behavior, he is likely to imitate—having fun with you, following direction, and building motor skills at the same time! 

Do you want to know more?  Visit this blog next week when the focus will be on Mirrors at DCM: Creativity Connections.

Resources:

Lacan's Mirror Stage: www.egs.edu/library/jacques-lacan/biography

Patsalides, L., 2012. Infant-Toddler Development with Daycare Mirrors, Bright Hub Education. www.brighthubeducation.com

Rochat, P., Broesch, T.,  Jayne, K., 2012. Social Awareness and Early Self-Recognition, Consciousness and Cognition, Elsevier, Inc. www.psychology.emory.edu/cognition/rochat/lab/Social%20awereness%20and%20early%20mirror%20self-recognition.pdf