Yes, kids can see mirrors.
While babies and young children can see their reflection in a mirror from a very young age, understanding that it's themselves they are seeing develops over time. Here's a breakdown of the stages:
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Young infants (birth to 8 months): Babies are visually capable of seeing their reflection and are often interested in the image in the mirror. They might smile, babble, and reach out to the "other baby," but they don't yet recognize it as themselves.
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Older infants and toddlers (8 months to 2 years): As they develop object permanence and a sense of self, toddlers begin to understand that the reflection is connected to their own movements. They might make faces in the mirror or test the connection by moving and watching the reflection respond. The "rouge test" (placing a spot of rouge on a child's nose and seeing if they touch their own nose or the reflection's) is often used to assess self-recognition around 18 months.
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Preschoolers (2 years and older): By the preschool years, most children have a solid understanding that the person in the mirror is themselves. They use mirrors for self-care activities like brushing their hair or getting dressed.
In summary, while the visual ability to see a mirror is present from birth, the cognitive understanding of self-recognition in a mirror develops gradually during infancy and toddlerhood.
