Everything that could not be explained from an everyday point of view became a reason for accepting. This was the case in ancient times, although some superstitions still exist today. Unsurprisingly, some parents don't understand why they shouldn't show their newborn in the mirror. What is this superstition? Where did it come from? Perhaps he has a scientific basis? The maternal instinct can play a cruel joke on a woman, and what she laughed at before begins to seem to her quite weighty and significant.
To be convinced of the groundlessness of such a "mirror" superstition, it is necessary to figure out where the legs "grow" from in the omen, what are the possible negative consequences of not observing it, and what scientists think about this.
Possible consequences"
Perhaps not a single thing can boast of so many signs and superstitious manifestations as an ordinary-looking mirror. People with a mystical type of thinking still consider this object to be a kind of entrance gate to the world of the dead or spirits.
A similar prejudice has come down to us since the Middle Ages, when reflecting glass first began to massively penetrate into human life. From generation to generation, people told their parents that a small child you cannot look in the mirror, otherwise:
- there will be a delay in the development of speech skills;
- he will start to stutter;
- teeth will come out late;
- he will be sick often and for a long time;
- eyes will squint;
- misfortunes will accompany him;
- he will grow up fearful;
- it will take over the troubles of those who used to look in the mirror.
It is curious that these (as well as others) omens do not explain how the relationship between the mirror and the likely negative consequences is formed. The person had to just believe.
However, modern people want to understand where such an illogical superstition came from. Perhaps knowledge of the alleged prerequisites for a particular sign will help get rid of fear due to its non-compliance.
Possible sources of superstition
Each frightening superstition has several simple explanations. Naturally, we can only assume what formed the basis of this or that mystical ritual or superstitious behavior.
So, there are at least three versions why the baby should not be shown in the mirror.
- Economic. The mirror product was very expensive, so not everyone could buy it. Therefore, the acquired mirror had to be treated with extreme respect. Well, a child, especially a small one, could accidentally break him. That is, babies of the first year of life were not brought to the mirrors, in order to avoid, so to speak, ruinous spending.
- Aesthetic. The manufacturing technology of the first mirrors was not perfect, so people were displayed in it from a rather unusual angle. Small children, seeing something incomprehensible and sometimes even scary in the mirror surface, could really get scared.
- Medical. In the Middle Ages, mirror mirrors added mercury to the alloy used to cover the product. This metal is known to have a very negative effect on human health. Perhaps the children, constantly spinning around an unusual object, could indeed have been poisoned by mercury vapor, which affected their well-being and further development.
A baby can really suffer from a mirror, but only if he accidentally breaks this fragile object and gets hurt from fragments scattered in different directions. This is the only likely harm to mirror surfaces.
What do scientists say?
So, above are the versions of why a child should not be shown in the mirror, why babies under one year old are forbidden to look in the mirror.
However, experts, primarily of a psychological profile, are convinced that it is not only possible, but also necessary to bring the baby to the mirror surface.
Long-term observations and practical exercises indicate that a small child, noticing his own reflection in the mirror, begins to smile and make faces. Gradually, he realizes that the man on the other side is none other than himself.
The systematicness of classes with a mirror allows the child to develop better, learn to navigate in the world around him. A kid older than a year can even "smack" his reflection, which causes delight and emotion among mothers and other household members.
One should not be afraid of the increased interest of children in mirror "doubles". There is nothing wrong in such a situation. Psychologists recommend competently acquainting the baby with the reflective surface and his own reflection.
How does a child see the world around him?
The vision of children begins to improve from the moment they are born. And if in the first month the newborn only focuses on objects, especially without lingering even on his mother's face, then later his visual abilities are developing very actively.
- a child of the second month of life is already able to look at a stationary object for several seconds, as well as track the movement of a moving object;
- the optimal distance at which a child can observe an object is approximately 30 centimeters. Usually babies during the neonatal period are farsighted;
- Four-month-old babies are already beginning to actively respond to backlit or dimly lit objects. At this age, the crumbs can already be interested in a shiny mirror surface;
- a half-year-old baby is already looking at the reflections of loved ones with enthusiasm. He also likes to look at his "double", but until he realizes that the child opposite is himself.
At 8 months of age, many babies already begin to understand who is in the mirror. This understanding, by the way, coincides with the emergence of fear of strangers. All these features indicate that babies are entering a period of self-identification.
When should you introduce your baby to a shiny object? Despite the fact that the child of the first half of his life is still too young to understand the connection between himself and the reflection, you can demonstrate the mirror now. Exercises like these help children develop more actively.
But the game with a mirror, in which an 8-month-old child participates, allows you to assess the correctness of his development, track the adequacy of his behavioral reactions and expand the usual framework of cognition of the surrounding reality.
Exercises in front of the mirror
The mirror surface is an excellent educational toy, of course, provided it is handled correctly and the age factor is taken into account. The most important thing is to stock up on a safe mirror and carefully monitor the reaction of the little man.
Games for a child under 6 months
The mirror is great for improving the spatial and visual perception of young children.
The learning algorithm consists of several consecutive actions:
- The child is taken on handles and brought to a large mirror at the optimal distance for a newborn - 30 cm. You must wait until the baby concentrates on the reflection.
- After that, the mother smiles and, referring to the child's reflection, softly says: “Hello, dear, it's me - your mother. See how I can open and close my eyes. Look how I smile. " All phrases must be accompanied by appropriate actions.
- Since the baby is still small, in order to track movements with her finger, mom takes his pen and shows herself where he is in the mirror, and what she is doing at this moment.
Such games are carried out only with a child who is in a good mood. The kid should not experience any discomfort.
Games for babies over 6 months
When the baby realizes that he is in the opposite mirror, you can complicate the exercises a little.
- Show and name parts of the face in front of the mirror: eyes, ears, nose, lips. This technique allows you to quickly learn the name and location of body parts and accelerate the development of speech.
- An older child is shown mirrored objects, pictures and letters. Why is this needed? Such a game helps to study familiar things in a completely different way.
- Emotional exercise is another type of mirror game. Invite your baby to look at himself in the mirror and express different emotions: smile, frown, tease. It is better to do such classes together, it will be more fun.
It is a good idea to show your child his dirty face in the mirror. If he starts cleaning the reflective surface, it is necessary to explain that you should wipe your face, in this case, the dirt in the reflection will disappear. This is a very effective exercise for developing self-awareness.
The mirror can also help in the formation of such a useful skill as dressing yourself. Experts recommend putting the baby in front of the mirror in front of the street so that he puts on a hat, jacket and gloves, looking at himself from the side.
Important recommendations
The most important rule is not to use fragile mirror surfaces or accessories with sharp edges when communicating with your baby. The ideal option is to buy a product whose surface is covered with a special reflective material. Rest tips are also noteworthy:
- you need to play with the child when he is ready to learn about the world around him, not hungry and does not feel discomfort;
- place the baby to the object at an optimal distance. This rule is especially true for newborns and children under six months;
- hang a mirror near the changing table or over the bed so that the child will occasionally look at this curious object;
- track your baby's reaction to your reflection. If he is happy, excited, activated at the sight of a reflection, therefore, he develops normally;
- Why do children tend to be afraid of mirrors? Perhaps the kids were scared by the size of the mirror surface, or the crumbs were too close for the first acquaintance distance. In this case, you need to stop learning, and then try again. If the situation has not improved, it is better to show the child to a neurologist;
- in no case should the baby be left alone with the mirror, you need to be nearby to ensure safety and track behavioral reactions. In addition, children's emotions are in themselves an amazing sight, which can not only be seen, but also filmed on video.
Of course, only the mother decides whether to believe or not in the omen that children should not look in the mirror. Experts are convinced that the background of superstition is too unconvincing. On the contrary, a mirrored surface, if handled skillfully, can help a child's development.
