PPOD TIP OF THE MONTH: BABY PEEK-A-BOO
Brenda Hussey-Gardner, PhD, MPH
Object permanence involves knowing that objects and people exist even though your
baby can't see them. Most babies begin to understand this concept when they are about
six months old. You will know that your baby is beginning to develop object permanence
when she continues to look for an object that you drop quietly to the floor. Once your
baby can do this, she will be ready for simple peek-a-boo games.
When you first start playing peek-a-boo games, your baby may look away when you
cover a toy or she may not find the toy. If this happens, try covering only half of the toy.
This will allow your baby to see part of the toy and will make it easier for her to find the
toy. If she needs even more help, try hiding a toy that makes music or some other
sound. In addition to seeing half of the toy, your baby will be able to hear it. This
combination may help her find the toy.
Once your baby is good at uncovering toys hidden under a cloth, your baby is ready to
learn to find a toy hidden under a cup or other object that hides the shape of the toy.
This is harder because your baby can't see the shape of the toy to remind her that
something is hiding. Most babies can find a toy hidden under a cup when they are 9
months old.
IDEAS
When playing, hold your baby in a supported sitting position and show your
baby one of her small stuffed animals. When she is looking at it, drop the toy to the
floor. Watch your baby’s reaction. If she doesn’t look for her stuffed animal, she
probably doesn’t have object permanence yet. As such, a toy that is out of sight is out of
mind. You can try this again to be sure.
If your baby looks for her stuffed animal, she has object permanence and is ready for
you to play simple peek-a-boo games with her toys. When first playing peek-a-boo
games with toys, use a cloth to hide the toy. Using a cloth allows your baby to see the
shape of the toy under the cloth. Show your baby the toy, cover it with a cloth while your
baby is looking, and then ask, “Where’s your toy?” If your baby lifts the cloth, say “Peek-
a-boo! You found it!” and clap. If she doesn’t find the toy, lift the cloth and say “Peek-aboo! Here it is!”
Before your baby’s bath, hold her in a supported sitting position and show her
a colorful washcloth. When she is looking at it, drop the washcloth to the floor. Watch
your baby’s reaction. If she doesn’t look for the washcloth, she probably doesn’t have
object permanence yet. As such, an object that is out of sight is out of mind. You can try
this again to be sure. If she looks to the floor to find the washcloth, then she has object
permanence and can remember that things exist even if she can’t see them.
Once your baby looks for a washcloth that is dropped silently to the floor, she is ready
for simple peek-a-boo games. A great first peek-a-boo game is to hide a bath toy under
a washcloth. Watch to see if your baby looks away or continues to look at the cloth. If
she looks away take the washcloth off and say “Peek-a-boo! Here’s your toy.” If your
baby looks at the cloth, ask, “Where is your toy?” Let your baby try to take off the
washcloth to find the toy.
Once your baby is good at finding toys hidden under a washcloth, make the peek-a-boo
game harder. Hide a rubber duck (or other bath toy) under the cup you use to rinse your
baby’s hair. Encourage your child to find the duck.
Prior to dressing your baby, hold her in a supported sitting position and show
your baby her shirt. When she is looking at it, drop her shirt to the floor. Watch your
baby’s reaction. If she doesn’t look for her shirt, she probably doesn’t have object
permanence yet. You can try this again later.
If your baby does look for her shirt, she is ready for simple peek-a-boo games. Play
peek-a-boo with your baby by putting her shirt over your face. Talk to your baby while
your face is covered so that she knows you are still there. Show your baby how to take
the shirt off so she can find you. You can put the shirt over your baby’s face too. If she
gets scared when you do this, take the shirt off and say, “Peek-a-boo I see you!”
Instead, cover her shoe with a pajama top. Ask, “Where’s your shoe?”
When your baby is ready, try something a little harder. Hide your baby’s socks under
her shoes. Say “Uh, oh! Where did your socks go?” Encourage your baby to find her
socks. If your baby is having fun with your game, play it a few times before putting her
socks and shoes on her feet.
Towards the end of the meal, show your baby a napkin. When she is looking at
the napkin, drop it to the floor. Watch her reaction. If she doesn’t look for the napkin; it’s
out of sight, out of mind. Try this again at another time.
If your baby looks for the napkin, then she has object permanence and is ready for
simple peek-a-boo games. Towards the end of the meal, cover a bowl with a napkin.
Then, ask, “Where’s your bowl?”
When your baby is good at finding things under a napkin, try hiding things under a cup.
Towards the end of the meal, cover a cracker with an empty cup. Ask, “Where’s your
cracker?”
Avoid playing these games at the beginning of the meal when your baby is hungry.
Playing peek-a-boo at this time will make your baby cranky.
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