Imitation

The act of observing and reproducing another person's actions, gestures, or vocalisations. Imitation is a foundational social and developmental skill that supports language acquisition, motor learning, and the establishment of shared experience between a child and a caregiver or peer. Differences in spontaneous imitation are commonly observed in children with autism spectrum disorder, and structured imitation activities are a frequent target of collaborative therapy and serious-game design in developmental contexts.