Mime games with your baby

Mime has been around for thousands of years, captivating adults and children alike. Everyone gets to call on their inner actor — and children can turn out to be surprisingly formidable players. In fact, from a very young age, they know this mode of communication inside out. Before they can speak, it's precisely how they communicate with the people around them. So once they're a little older, they'll take to this activity like a duck to water.

Mime games: what are they?

Before we talk about the game itself, let's talk about those remarkable performers who use gesture to imitate attitudes and people. The most famous of all is undoubtedly the clown — a firm favourite with children. Some will have encountered one at the circus, others at a birthday party. Either way, the laughter is guaranteed, because it's all about exaggerating the funny traits. Young audiences absolutely love these mimes.

But there are also the more classical and no less celebrated mime artists, like Marcel Marceau, known the world over. You'll find them in theatres as well as in the pedestrian streets of artistic quarters in cities like Paris or Avignon. Funny, serious, or slapstick — they all touch something in us.

The mime game draws inspiration from all these performers. The aim is to mime a person, an object, or an expression for the others to guess.

Mime games: sharpening the power of observation

This is undoubtedly the essential skill for pulling off a good mime — but also for guessing what someone else is trying to convey. Whatever the age of the young players, they'll develop a keen sense of observation. For younger children, miming an emotion such as happiness or anger is particularly instructive.

They'll remember what changes in someone's face and body depending on their mood. In doing so, they'll learn to tune into others — which is also part of socialisation. Being able to recognise signs of joy, anger, or tiredness means being attuned to the people around you. They'll learn that body language is just as important as words, and this will be an invaluable tool for interacting with others — especially at school, where this quality will help them fit in and make themselves understood.

Mime games: strengthening family bonds

Imitating others is a guaranteed recipe for laughter. Children have no filter — instinctively, they'll home in on the character traits that everyone notices but rarely says out loud, and they'll do so in all innocence. Like all family games, it will strengthen your bonds and give your children the security of a kind, supportive environment.

These moments of fun and laughter also help make up for time lost to work and other demands. Adults benefit just as much from these strengthened connections. And with mime, everyone is on a truly level playing field — the youngest will be thrilled to hold their own against the older ones. Nothing beats it for giving your children the foundations of a solid self-confidence.

How to spark the imagination through play

Imagination is a world unto itself — and in a child, it is essential to their healthy development. It helps them make sense of everything around them. Miming the word "mummy", for instance, invites your child to step into their mother's shoes. More broadly, pretending helps develop empathy across all areas of life. Imagination also becomes a powerful ally in all the stressful situations a child will face.

It gives them the ability to revisit a difficult moment and approach it differently. During a family game, a child might even re-enact something that upset them — and doing so will help them gain a sense of distance from it. For example, if they have to mime anger and choose to imitate their father telling them off, the imitation might turn into a hilariously exaggerated portrayal of a furious parent, making everyone laugh.

Mime games: building self-confidence

Shared moments as a family are the very best way to provide a warm and reassuring environment for your children. But with mime, it goes even further. Every player digs deep to find the inspiration to impress the group — and the fact that everyone is on an equal footing encourages the youngest and least experienced players to give it a go.

Equally, when the little ones guess what someone is miming, it creates a real buzz of excitement. Round by round, you'll watch their confidence grow. Through the game, each child learns that they are just as capable as everyone else. And let's not forget — the very youngest, who may not yet speak very well, will be more than happy. They'll discover the power of their bodily communication. It's not at all unusual for a naturally shy child to truly come into their own through mime.

Some ideas for playing with little ones

This is an activity you can do anywhere, with any age group. You can let everyone mime whatever they like, or choose to stick to specific themes such as a place, a person, an expression, and so on. For very young children, we recommend starting with simple emotions.

Think happiness, anger, sadness, surprise, or fear. The little performer will use all their imagination to convey each feeling. Everyday verbs also work brilliantly — sleeping, eating, and washing will delight all the players.

To make it easier for the youngest players, let them use props. That way, they can cuddle a soft toy to mime "comforting", or wipe it with washable wipes before putting on a diaper to mime "nappy change". With very little, you'll uncover some truly impressive impressionists!