#0-2childdevelopment

• Ideal for children between 0-2 years of age, however can be incorporated into activities for children up to 5 years of age. 

*Activity Idea: Mirrors in Sensory Area*

~ Equipment Ideas ~

Anything you can find that is reflective will work for this, you could even make your own mirrors for the younger children taking part, with the use of some cardboard shapes and tin foil, anything is possible! Below are some examples you could use for the activity. 

• Mirrors - place on walls for young children to lay next to and look at, to see what is around them • Silver reflective trays - place on the floor - you could add textures, such as sand, flour etc to make in to a mark making activity, or they could use it as a hide and seek tray to show only certain part of their face.  • Blank CDs - Hang with string in a modile formation so the children can see themselves at different heights • Tin Foil - cut out some cardbord shapes adn wrap them in tin foil to make your own mirrors. crease the foil in various places to make distorted mirrors.  • Spoons - looking at yourself in a spoon is interesting as one side shows the reflection upside down, whereas the other shows the reflection the right way up. 

~ Reflective Questions ~

Ideally the following questions are examples aimed at children between 1 and 3 years of age, as they are more talkative and can answer you with the answer, whether it is correct or not, if you create a stimulating environment as detailed below, the child is very likely to enjoy the activity. 

• Who can you see? • Where are your eyes? • Where is your nose? • Where is your mouth? • Where are your teeth? • Where is your tongue? You could also add in a new factor, such as colour... • What colour is your hair? • What colour are your eyes?

~ Early Years Foundation Stage ~

8-20 Months

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (Self-confidence and Self-awareness):

A Unique Child: • Enjoys finding own nose, eyes or tummy as part of naming games.

Positive Relationships: • Playfully help babies to recognise that they are separate and different from others, e.g. pointing to their own nose and eyes etc. 

Enabling Environments: • Place mirrors where children can see their own reflection. Talk with them about what they can see. 

Communication and Language (Understanding)

A Unique Child: • Developing the ability to follow others’ body language, including pointing and gestures. •Responds to the different things said when in a familiar context with a specific person, e.g. where’s your nose?

Positive Relationships: • Interpret and give meaning to the things children show interest in, e.g. when they point to an object or a feature, tell them what it is, e.g. glasses. • Use and repeat single words so the child can gradually link the word to its meaning.