The Dropping Game
Parent drops a small toy from the highchair or table while baby watches, then observes whether baby looks down to find it. This captures early object permanence, visual tracking, and the cognitive understanding that objects continue to exist when they move out of the original field of view.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Baby seated in highchair or parent's lap at a table. Have a small, visible toy ready.
How it works
- 1~15s
First, let your child play with the toy for a few seconds -- let them hold it, look at it, get interested in it. Then, when they's watching, hold it up at the edge of the table and slowly let it drop to the floor. Don't say anything about it -- just let it fall. Now, what does your child do?
Watch for: visual_tracking_of_dropped_object
- 2~15s
Let's pick the toy up and try it again. This time, I want you to watch your child's face right at the moment you let go. Does they watch the toy, or watch your face? And does they look down faster this time since they knows what's coming?
Watch for: anticipates_where_dropped_object_goes
- 3~20s
Here's the really fun part. Give the toy back to your child and see if they drops it on purpose. Not all babies will do this yet, but some will drop it and then look down to see where it went. Does they try it?
Watch for: deliberately_drops_object_and_looks
- 4
Last thing -- during all this dropping, has your child made any sounds? Especially when the toy lands -- any gasps, laughs, babbling, or that baby 'uh oh' sound? I'm curious about the vocal soundtrack.
Watch for: vocalizes_in_response_to_events