Object search game
6–12 monthsEmotional WellbeingMaterials: Small blanket or cloth and favorite toy
Partially hide a toy under a blanket or cloth while your child watches, leaving part of it visible. Encourage them to find and retrieve it. As they master this, you can hide it more completely. If they seem frustrated, uncover more of the toy or guide their hand toward it. Make it a playful game where they experience the challenge of searching and the satisfaction of finding.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Partially hide a toy under a blanket or cloth while your child watches, leaving part of it visible. Encourage them to find and retrieve it. As they master this, you can hide it more completely. If they seem frustrated, uncover more of the toy or guide their hand toward it. Make it a playful game where they experience the challenge of searching and the satisfaction of finding.
Why It Works
This activity builds resilience by creating a problem to solve where the object temporarily disappears but can be recovered through effort. It supports object permanence development while teaching persistence and recovery from minor setbacks. Children who develop resilience early show better problem-solving skills and emotional regulation throughout life, with resilience being positively correlated with better outcomes across multiple domains (Martin & Marsh, 2006). The predictable success after brief uncertainty teaches your child that challenges can be overcome with effort.
Tips for Parents
Start easy by leaving most of the toy visible. Make it gradually more challenging as your child succeeds.
Celebrate their searching efforts, not just finding the toy. Say things like, you kept looking and found it.
Materials Needed
Small blanket or cloth and favorite toy
Learning Methods
Responsive InteractionMovement-Based Learning
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