Development games for babies: "peekaboo" game
The game of peek-a-boo is not only one of the first games you can play with an infant, but it is also a good game for development, especially the development of a skill such as ‘object permanence’.
Babies are born without the understanding that objects are permanent. If mum has left the room, she is gone. The baby cannot yet realise that she has gone into the other room and will be back soon. If you cover a toy with a blanket, that toy is missing for the baby. He is not expecting to see it under the blanket again. During the first year, this important skill for the baby is developing - recognising the permanence of objects.
This game will also be useful to prepare for separation anxiety and during this stage of development, when the baby suddenly becomes more anxious when separated from mum and reacts more sensitively to strangers.
- Gives the baby social interaction with an adult.
- Allows to create eye contact between the baby and an adult.
- Develops the brain and helps in making new neural connections.
- Familiarises the baby with facial expressions and emotions. Be artistic. Show interest, surprise, joy on your face. Because of mirror neurons, your baby learns from you to express and recognise emotions.
- It helps to create a bond with your baby and brings fun.
Gradually, the baby will be able to become more involved in the process and, closer to the age of one, initiate the game himself. And also, with the development of new motor skills, he will be able, for example, to pull a blanket off a hidden toy.
At what age to play?
This game is 0+. Even a baby of a month or two can enjoy it. The optimal age to start is usually 3-6 months. You can start earlier, you can start later. This is one of the basic games for a child of the first year of life. After a year, the baby will gradually move on to more complex games, such as "hide-and-seek".
How to play?
The rules are very simple. Hide your face with your palms or a shawl, then open it and happily say "peek-a-boo". You can also hide the toy under a blanket or a shawl and then open it.
It is important that the scenario of the game does not change. That is, surprises such as a long-term loss or complete loss of a toy that was not found can upset the baby. It is important that the outcome of this game is predictable.
A little older children can open toys themselves or hide their faces with their palms themselves.
Remember, that this is a fun game. And it is a game. Most kids really enjoy it. But if today is not the time when your baby is ready to dive into it, do not insist. Try it another time, when your baby is in cheerful mood and nothing is bothering him.
Author of the article: Aleksandra Ņekrasova
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