Find some safe mirrors (not broken/damaged) and display them for the children to use.

Ways to develop numeracy through play

• Build with blocks on top of a mirror.
• Use shapes with a mirror.
• Sort and group items on the mirror.
• Talk about symmetry.
• Talk about body parts, eg 2 eyes, 2 ears and 1 nose.
• Make a graph of different hair or eye colours after looking in a mirror.

Ways to develop literacy through play

• Use safe mirrors near babies for tummy time. Talk to babies about what you can see, eg “I can see Christopher smiling at me.”
• Let babies and children look at themselves in mirrors. Make different faces and name them for your child (this helps to develop emotional literacy).
• Play peekaboo with a scarf over a mirror.
• Name body parts.
• Sing Heads and Shoulders, Knees and Toes touching each body part.
• Put a large mirror in the dress-up area talk about what your child is doing or wearing.
• Put a large safe mirror on the ground to crawl and sit on. Use words like on/off and reflection.
• Sing If You’re Happy and You Know It.
• Use small mirrors in the drawing area for children to look at and draw a self-portrait.
• Take a mirror outside to watch the clouds – talk about what things the clouds look like.
• Read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.

• Paint on mirrors.
• Finger paint with shaving cream on mirrors or windows.
• Make a hairdressing salon in the dramatic play area.
• Have a photo booth with dress-ups and props, and look in the mirror to see how you look.
• Mirror image – copy each other.
• Play Simon Says.

Parents or carers can:

• Comment on what their children are doing (say what they see).
• Talk in their home language.
• Use literacy and numeracy words (see words to use section above).

You can help families by:

• Modelling what you want them to do.
• Talking to them about the focus of the activity and what children might be learning.
• Writing up words that go with the activity.
• Making suggestions on what families can do at home.
• Naming body parts in other languages.

Great Start activities are for parents and carers to do with their children.

• Getting dressed
• Dressing your baby
• Washing your hair