Where Did It Go?
Classic hide-and-find game where the parent hides a toy under a cloth or behind a cushion while the baby watches. The guide walks the parent through observing the baby's search strategies, revealing cognitive understanding of object permanence, problem-solving approaches, and persistence.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Sit on floor with baby. Have a favorite toy and a small cloth or towel ready.
How it works
- 1~15s
Okay, start by letting your child play with the toy for a moment so they is really into it. Then, while they's watching, cover the toy with the cloth -- but leave part of it sticking out. Like, let the edge peek out from under the cloth. Now watch -- does your child go for it?
Watch for: searches_for_partially_hidden_toy
- 2~20s
Now the real test. Let your child see the toy again, and this time cover it completely with the cloth. Nothing peeking out. Make sure your child watched you hide it. Then just wait and see what happens. What does they do?
Watch for: searches_for_completely_hidden_toy
- 3~25s
Let's try something fun. This time, hide the toy a little further away -- like a foot or two from your child. Close enough that they can see where you put it, but far enough that they has to move to get it. Does your child go after it?
Watch for: moves_body_to_reach_hidden_toy
- 4
I love this part -- when your child finds the hidden toy, what's the emotional reaction? Does they light up? Laugh? Look at you like 'did you see that?' Squeal? Or is it more of a calm 'there it is' vibe? I want to hear about the celebration.
Watch for: emotional_response_to_finding_hidden_toy
- 5~20s
Okay, one more thing if your child is still into it. Get a second cloth. Hide the toy under one cloth while your child watches. Then -- and this is the tricky part -- move the toy from under the first cloth to under the second cloth, also while your child watches. Where does they search -- the first place or the second place?
Watch for: tracks_visible_displacement_between_locations