8mo–20mo8 minReadingStory timeQuiet time
Flap Surprise: Find What’s Hidden
A short shared-book routine where you uses lift-the-flap pages with your child to explore “hidden and found,” practise simple mechanisms (lifting flaps), and build curiosity about what’s out of sight.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a lift-the-flap board book (or sturdy picture book with flaps)
- a comfy place to sit together (lap, cushion, sofa)
Nice to have
- a small scarf/cloth (for a simple hide-and-find at the end)
- a favourite small toy (safe size for age)
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneShows interest in toys with buttons, flaps and simple mechanisms and beginning to learn to operate them.Mind· 8mo–20mo· core
- MilestoneFinds a visibly hidden objectMind· 7mo–14mo· stretch
- MilestoneExperiments with object actionsMind· 8mo–20mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneSearches for disappeared objectMind· 6mo–12mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneLooks at books with a familiar personMind· 10mo–2y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneExplores and handles booksMind· 6mo–12mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneAttends to book contentMind· 18mo–2.6y· stretch
- MilestoneUses objects functionallyMind· 10mo–15mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneLooks for a dropped objectMind· 6mo–9mo· core· Step 4
What it practices
- Shows interest in toys with buttons, flaps and simple mechanisms and beginning to learn to operate them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Watches toy being hidden and tries to find it.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Looks for dropped objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Anticipates repeated sounds, sights and actions, e.g. when an adult demonstrates an action toy several times.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Provide lift-the-flap books to show something hidden from view.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)