Peekaboo Activity
As the world is new to them, babies do not know that things continue to exist even if they are hidden (called ‘object permanence’). Playing ‘Peekaboo’ achieves this. Enjoy baby’s delight as they anticipate you appearing from behind your hands again!
Why do it?
- It’s a fun way for baby to begin learning about ‘object permanence’ — that people and things can disappear and then reappear again.
- Repetitions of games like ‘peekaboo’ help baby begin to understand that something can still exist, even when they can’t see it.
How to do it
There are many ways to play ‘peekaboo’. The parent can hide:
- their own face, saying something like, ‘Where am I?’ and then pop out, saying ‘Peekaboo!’
- baby’s face, saying something like, ‘Where’s Baby?’, and then expose baby’s face saying, ‘Peekaboo!’
- behind a curtain or piece of furniture, then pop out and say, ‘Peekaboo!’
- a toy behind a cloth or behind their back, and then show it to baby and say, ‘Peekaboo!’
Using more reo Māori
| Te reo Māori | English |
|---|---|
| Huna | Hide |
| Kimihia | Look for, search |
| Ohorere | Surprised |
| Ārai | Curtain |
| Tūpoki | A cover |
| Kanohi | Face |
| Tangohia te tūpoki | Take away the cover |
| Kei hea te pēpi? | Where’s baby? |
| Kei konei ā oēoi | Here’s baby |
| Kei hea au? | Where am I? |
| Anei ahau | Here I am! |
| Whakahokia te tūpoki | Put back the cover |
| He pai ki ā koe tēnei kēmu? | Do you like this game? |
| He kēmu pai nē rā | It’s a good game isn’t it! |
