RL.B.12 CHANGES FACIAL EXPRESSION IN RESPONSE TO AN ADULT’S FACIAL EXPRESSION

Because faces are the most important ‘objects’ in the baby’s environment, facial gestures are frequently the first to which she will respond. She will show her response, at first, by changing her own facial expression – later she will begin to directly imitate the expression she sees.

How to Assess

Method: Sit at eye level with your child. When you have her attention, change your own facial expression – from neutral to happy, and then from neutral to ‘angry’. You can also experiment with other facial expressions, such as open-mouthed surprise, or ‘funny’ faces.

Score plus if your child responds by changing her own facial expression. She need not copy directly what you do.

How to Teach

Encouraging such responses is a big subject – and an important one. We discuss it fully in the sections on Turn-taking and Imitation in Book 3, Chapter 2. We suggest that you read this chapter now, and use it as a guide for teaching your child to respond to not only facial gestures but other kinds of gestures – and sounds – as well.