Imitation is a powerful form of learning commonly used by children, adults and infants. It accelerates learning and multiplies learning opportunities. It is also faster than individual discovery and safer than trial-and-error learning.

Newborns as young as 42 minutes old match gestures shown to them, including tongue protrusion and mouth opening.

This is remarkable because newborns cannot yet see their faces, and have never seen their reflection in a mirror. Yet, they can map from the behaviour of the person they observe and produce the same actions.

Neuroscience findings have shown that when babies see others produce actions with a particular body part, their brains are activated correspondingly. They eventually learn to imitate the actions when their motor skills allow them to do so.

Read more at CD-PLY-C01 and CD-PLY-C02.