Before children learn their alphabets, they learn how to imitate others. That happens to be an innate trait in all humans: we all learn the most basic habits this way, like eating, sleeping, communicating and the like.

While parents might find the habit to be annoying or funny, in reality, your child is undergoing an important part of their development. Here is why your child likes imitating you:

They’re Curious!

This is the simplest reason: your child is new to this world, and they have much and more to discover about the world. They might not have enough resources to understand everything, but they do have the drive to learn more by simply copying what they see. Parents are the first people children develop a deep connection with, and so they act on their curiosity with them first.

They’re Learning How To Communicate

Children like to be vocal, because it is a sense of theirs that they’re beginning to develop. So if they like imitating whatever you say, they’re actually trying to learn how communication works. They may even copy your words – or even your tone – but in both cases, children learn new words and phrases, and try to use them in normal conversation.

They’re Learning How Emotions Work

Most of the times, children don’t understand what they’re feeling; their minds have not developed enough to acknowledge and process their emotions the way adults do. That’s why they depend on their environment, and imitate whatever they see – it’s what they know best. That’s why children brought up in a turbulent environment will be more irritable or even violent, while children reared in a loving home will be more empathetic and calmer with others.

They’re Honing Their Social Skills

The way you act at home is never the same way you act in public – and children know that. In social settings, they don’t know how to interact with other people, and so rely on their parents. They may imitate the way you greet someone, or the way you react at some inconvenience, and consider it to be a new social skill. While this may create some funny (or even embarrassing!) instances for parents, it’s actually something worth celebrating – your child is learning how to be social, and that is definitely commendable!

They’re Trying To Be Independent

This sounds pretty contradictory – how can someone be independent if they’re copying someone else? Well, to understand this you need to understand your child’s perspective!

While your child imitates you, something else is going on in their head: when they do something their parent is doing, they realize how they have control over themselves. They learn how to do tasks on their own, and so experience what it’s like to be independent. It is a great exercise for children, especially those who tend to stick to their parents all the time!


Imitation is a natural skill, and if used to a child’s benefit, it can culminate into great benefits. Nurseries in Jumeirah Park help nurture this habit in a more practical approach; in fact, Oakfield Early Learning Centre takes it up a notch by incorporating elements of imitation in their fun-filled group activities. Whether it’s imitating a camping trip, or dressing up as firefighters, children get to understand different roles and real-world tasks. Not only do they learn their importance, but they also realize the benefits of imitating good and helpful behavior.


So the next time you see your little one copying your every move, make sure they have a good role model to follow!