Imitation can be a means of learning through observation and copying behaviors and skills. Imitation is most effective when the learner has the ability to observe carefully and understand relationships between actions. While children can learn through imitation, their ability is limited by their level of maturation - a child may observe a complex skill but not be physically or mentally developed enough to imitate it themselves. Imitation allows learners to save time by learning from others' examples rather than discovering everything through trial and error alone.