Peek-A-Boo

Who doesn't love a game of peek-a-boo? It's so common that almost all cultures have it. In the Philippines we say "bulaga!" when we come out of hiding. 

This article and the information was adapted from peekaboostplay.com. I wanted to be share this information because peek-a-boo games is so widespread and innately a wonderful way to play and interact between a parent and child. In addition, peek-a-boo continues to evolve as children learn new skills such as object permanence, language and even humor. 

Object Permanence is learned when we realize that a person or object still exists even when they're hidden or seen. While this isn't present yet, children are excited to see you when you re-appear. For older children, it becomes a moment of anticipation to see you again because they know you're there! 

This simple game supports language and communication because our children learn that they can request and respond both verbally and non-verbally as you take turns hiding, peeking and reappearing. It also promotes social emotional development wherein you can explore different facial expressions, humor, spontaneity and taking turns.

Peek-a-boo games through the first year

At 2-3 months, they can be just smiling games. By 6-8 months, babies are becoming more interactive and holding a memory for short periods of time to anticipate the action of their parent. Just keep the short attention span in mind because if you take too long to reappear, they might lose interest in your little game. By the time children are 9-12 months, you might notice them taking a more active role and even begin to peek and hide themselves. 

Have you played a game of peek-a-boo today?