Skill· 8mo–18mo· 2 min

Play Explorer

Parent observes object play milestones — object permanence search, tapping and banging, clapping, finger-food self-feeding, and dumping/emptying containers. Covers five play and manipulation milestones at 12-18mo. Three phases: hide and find, container play, and clap-and-tap.

Start voice activity

Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.

What you'll need

Small toy for hiding. Container (cup, small jar) with 3-5 blocks or large beads. Safe finger food (soft cut pieces). Simple drum or pot. All objects must be too large to swallow.

How it works

  1. 1~20s

    Let your child see you put a small toy under a cloth or behind your back. Then ask: 'Where did it go?' Does your child look for it? Pull the cloth? Look behind you? Or just look at the spot where it was? Tell me.

    Watch for: Child searches for hidden object

  2. 2~60s

    Now give your child the cup of small objects. Does your child dump them out? Then hand a surface to tap — the pot, drum, or table. Does your child tap it with an object? Deliberately, or randomly? Do the hands come together in a clap at any point? Tell me what you see across all three.

    Watch for: Child dumps objects from container and taps/bangs intentionally

  3. 3~30s

    Now place a few pieces of soft finger food on the tray — soft cooked vegetables, small pieces of banana, cereal. Does your child pick up the pieces with fingers and bring them to their mouth? Does the food actually get in? Note the grip used. Tell me.

    Watch for: Child picks up and eats small finger food pieces

What this develops

Visual example

Coming soon