TinyStepper
Parent and child clapping hands together mid-nursery-rhyme on a rug

Mirror Face Game

Sit at a mirror together — make faces, name expressions, and copy each other.

Activity details

18m–3y8 minslowindoorNo prepMirror

Instructions

Get ready
  • Sit in front of a safe mirror with your toddler
  • Make a big smile: 'Look! I'm HAPPY!'
  1. Sit in front of a safe mirror with your toddler
  2. Make a big smile: 'Look! I'm HAPPY!'
  3. Point at their reflection: 'Can you see YOUR face?'
  4. Make a sad face: 'Now I'm SAD. See my mouth?'
  5. Ask: 'Can you make a sad face?'
  6. Celebrate whatever they do: 'There it is! Sad face!'
  7. Try silly faces: tongue out, eyes wide, puffed cheeks

Parent tip

Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.

Parent and child sitting face-to-face laughing together in a warm shared moment

What success looks like

Back-and-forth between you — words, gestures, shared pretend. Connection is the real outcome here.

Sit your toddler in front of a mirror with you beside them. Make a big happy face: 'HAPPY!' A sad face: 'SAD!' A surprised face with wide eyes: 'SURPRISED!' Let them see both your face AND theirs in the mirror. Then ask: 'Can you make a happy face?' The mirror provides instant visual feedback — toddlers can see their own face making the expression, which helps them understand what facial muscles do.

Why it helps

Mirror play develops self-awareness and connects facial expressions to emotion words. Seeing your own face helps toddlers understand the relationship between how they feel and how they look. Copying faces is also excellent oral motor practice — the same muscles used for expressions are used for speech production. Speech and Language UK recommend face-to-face interaction and copying actions as core strategies for building early communication.

Variations

  • Make animal faces: 'Fish face! Lion face! Bunny nose!'
  • Open wide, stick tongue out, scrunch nose — name each movement.
  • Put stickers on different facial features: 'Sticker on your NOSE!'

Safety tips

  • Use an unbreakable mirror (acrylic or stainless steel).
  • Secure wall mirrors so they cannot fall.
  • Supervise closely if using a handheld mirror — sharp edges.

Want to try another?

Babble Echo Game

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