Discover Hidden Toys
Parent hides toys under a blanket and encourages baby to find them, introducing the concept of object permanence. The agent coaches the parent to observe attention, visual tracking, and early understanding that objects exist even when hidden.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Baby seated or supported in an upright position. Two interesting toys and a small blanket or cloth within parent's reach. Baby should be alert and in a good mood.
How it works
- 1~30s
Start by showing your child one of the toys. Hold it about an arm's length away and describe it in simple words — like 'Look at the red ball!' or 'See the rattle!' Move it slowly so it catches their eye. Now show the second toy and do the same. Does your child look at the toys? Does they seem interested? Can they shift attention from one toy to the other? Tell me what you see.
Watch for: Baby chooses to pay attention to presented objects, focusing gaze on them.
- 2~30s
Now for the fun part! Take one of the toys and partially cover it with the blanket — leave part of it sticking out so your child can still see a bit of it. Say something like 'Where did it go?' in a playful voice. Watch your child's reaction — does they look at where the toy was? Does they seem surprised or curious? Does they try to look for it? Tell me what happens.
Watch for: Baby maintains attention on the partially hidden toy and shows awareness that it is still there.
- 3~35s
Now let's try with both toys. Show both toys to your child, then partially cover each one with the blanket, leaving parts visible. Ask 'Where are your toys?' and see if your child alternates their attention between the two hiding spots. Does they look back and forth? Does they reach for one? This tells us about your child's ability to hold two things in mind at once.
Watch for: Baby shows awareness of surroundings by alternating attention between two partially hidden objects.