March 10, 2026
The Power of Imitation Skills
Copying A Puppy
My heart leapt with joy when my little autistic friend imitated a panting dog using her voice. I have watched my 19 month old friend go from wandering around her home with little purpose, to discovering a designated kitchen cabinet for her “kitchen band.” This is where she learned to imitate actions like tapping and stirring, to imitating novel actions on toys like blocks and balls. The First Words Project, a helpful resource I shared with her mom, outlines actions a child should be doing by 16 months. Imitation on objects is the first level in the imitation hierarchy. I first learned about this from Laura Mize in 2020 as a new SLP. It became a game changer in the way I approached therapy!
My little friend then moved to imitating gestures and novel actions to songs. She developed two fun skills : first, drumming on the ground paired with “boom!” and second, pretending to wash her hands to a phrase from a book, “Wishy washy wishy washy wishy washy whee!”
At this level, I also find introducing a First Words Book with actions like driving a car, patting a kitten, or using a sign for an apple or banana are ways to incorporate gestures. Another fantastic resource to share at this level is the 16 Gestures by 16 months which highlights foundational skills in detail.
Back to my little friend…
The next level, imitation of sounds, can help our little friends find their voice. Voiceless sounds, like panting like a dog, the “Shh” gesture, or pretend coughing or drinking can be great places to start. The First Words book can be helpful to encourage these sounds. I am excited to see my little friend this week and continue to build her imitation skills to include voiced sounds like animal sounds or vehicle sounds.
Stay tuned for more on imitation next week!