Where Did It Go
What you need
- a small toy from your bag
How to do it
- Show them the small toy, then cover it with your hand on your knee or the seat.
- Ask "Where did it go?" and wait for them to lift your hand.
- Swap hands sometimes, and let them hide it for you to find.
Why it matters
Finding a toy under a hand is object permanence in action: they are learning that things still exist when they can't see them.
What they're learning
- Object permanence
- Lifting your hand to find the toy shows they know it is still there.
- Hand-eye coordination
- Reaching straight to the right hand and lifting it off.
- Taking turns
- Hiding it for you to find is their first go at running the game.
What to look for
Watch for them reaching for your hand before you have finished asking.
A tip
Keep the toy one they already love. A new toy turns the game into grabbing it instead of finding it.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: only half cover the toy so a corner peeks out
Harder: hide it in one closed hand, swap it behind your back, and let them pick a hand
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Quiet & calm activities · Activities for 1 year olds · Activities for 18 month olds