Birth–11 monthsThe Natural WorldTechnology (aspect removed in EYFS 2021)
Reacts with abrupt change when a face or object suddenly disappears from view.
Observe whether the child: reacts with abrupt change when a face or object suddenly disappears from view.
What it looks like
Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.
Emerging
Just starting
Shows a brief abrupt change (pause, widened eyes, startle, frown) when a face/object disappears suddenly, especially during close face-to-face play. Response may be inconsistent or short.
What you might see
During peekaboo, the adult hides their face and the baby shows no clear pause/startle; continues looking around or at another object.
A toy is covered quickly with a cloth and the baby’s expression and body stay unchanged; no focused response to the change.
When the adult’s face disappears, the baby briefly freezes or widens eyes, then looks away.
When a toy vanishes behind a hand/cloth, the baby’s expression changes (frown/quiet) for a moment but does not orient to the last location.
Expected
On track
Reliably reacts with a clear abrupt change when an engaged face/object disappears (e.g., in peekaboo), showing surprise or disruption. May begin to orient toward where it went or anticipate reappearance.
What you might see
In peekaboo, the baby pauses and looks intently at the covered face, then smiles or vocalises when it reappears.
When a toy is suddenly hidden, the baby immediately looks to the spot where it disappeared.
Exceeding
Going further
Consistently shows an immediate abrupt reaction across contexts (peekaboo, toy dropped behind cloth) and often looks toward the last seen location or shifts body to re-find it. Reacts differently to sudden vs gradual disappearance (more abrupt for sudden).
What you might see
When the adult suddenly steps out of view and back, the baby shows a clear abrupt reaction (surprise) and then watches closely for return.
When a toy is quickly pulled behind a cushion, the baby turns head/body toward the last seen place and continues looking.
Pulls a cloth over a toy or face during play and watches for the reaction/return, as if recreating peekaboo.
After the disappearance, deliberately looks back and forth between the hiding place and the adult, as if expecting the reappearance.
Try this at home
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
Peekaboo: cover your face briefly with your hands and notice whether your baby shows an immediate "surprise" pause or facial change when you disappear.
Toy play: hide a favourite toy quickly behind a cloth and observe whether your baby reacts abruptly and looks toward where it went.
Daily transitions: step briefly behind a doorframe and return; notice if your baby shows a clear abrupt change when you vanish from view.
Bath time: let a floating toy slip under the bubbles/cloth and watch for surprise or searching when it disappears suddenly.
Story time: use a puppet that pops in/out of view and observe whether your baby reacts more strongly to sudden disappearance than slow moving away.
Connected behaviours
Behaviours that scaffold, follow, or co-emerge with this one.
The framework source and supporting developmental research.
Framework source
Development Matters in the EYFS (2012), DfE (DM2012).
Highlights abrupt reaction to disappearance as an observable indicator of developing understanding of object/face continuity in birth–11 months.
Developmental research
Piaget, J. (1954). The Construction of Reality in the Child.
Classic developmental work on object permanence and infants’ responses to disappearance supports using surprise/search reactions as assessment evidence.
Five-level rubric (detailed)ShowHide
The full progression underlying the three levels above. Used by the platform’s reasoning agent when planning activities and observations.
Not Yet
Shows little noticeable change when a face/object disappears; attention may drift or remain neutral. Does not show a startle, pause, or searching response linked to the disappearance.
During peekaboo, the adult hides their face and the baby shows no clear pause/startle; continues looking around or at another object.
A toy is covered quickly with a cloth and the baby’s expression and body stay unchanged; no focused response to the change.
Emerging
Shows a brief abrupt change (pause, widened eyes, startle, frown) when a face/object disappears suddenly, especially during close face-to-face play. Response may be inconsistent or short.
When the adult’s face disappears, the baby briefly freezes or widens eyes, then looks away.
When a toy vanishes behind a hand/cloth, the baby’s expression changes (frown/quiet) for a moment but does not orient to the last location.
Developing
Reliably reacts with a clear abrupt change when an engaged face/object disappears (e.g., in peekaboo), showing surprise or disruption. May begin to orient toward where it went or anticipate reappearance.
In peekaboo, the baby pauses and looks intently at the covered face, then smiles or vocalises when it reappears.
When a toy is suddenly hidden, the baby immediately looks to the spot where it disappeared.
Secure
Consistently shows an immediate abrupt reaction across contexts (peekaboo, toy dropped behind cloth) and often looks toward the last seen location or shifts body to re-find it. Reacts differently to sudden vs gradual disappearance (more abrupt for sudden).
When the adult suddenly steps out of view and back, the baby shows a clear abrupt reaction (surprise) and then watches closely for return.
When a toy is quickly pulled behind a cushion, the baby turns head/body toward the last seen place and continues looking.
Reflexive
Uses the reaction as part of a social game: pauses, then looks for the reappearance or initiates the sequence by pulling a cloth over a face/toy. May show clear expectation of return and attempts to make it happen.
Pulls a cloth over a toy or face during play and watches for the reaction/return, as if recreating peekaboo.
After the disappearance, deliberately looks back and forth between the hiding place and the adult, as if expecting the reappearance.
