It doesn’t get much simpler for baby play than a game of ‘peekaboo’.

Resources

  • Muslin blanket or silk scarf

Method

Usually it is the big brothers entertaining their little brother with this, but all three of them wanted to play under the scarf today.

I covered them up (SAFELY so they could breathe!) and asked our dog, “Now where could they be?” and pretended to hunt under around, before pulling the scarf off and shouting, “There they are!”

You can tell from the big smiles how much fun a simple game like this can be! Ioan (5) and Finn (3) liked that the scarf is thin, so they could see through it and were giggling away at me searching in silly places for them.

Cian is 5 months was shrieking with anticipation as I approached them. When I pulled the scarf off he was giving full belly laughs, which made Ioan and Finn laugh even louder. All three of them kept looking at each other and couldn’t stop the giggles. Even at this age laughter is infectious!

DfES Outcomes for EYFS (2013)

Communication and language

Listening and attention (Birth to 11 months)

• Turns towards a familiar sound then locates range of sounds with accuracy.

• Listens to, distinguishes and responds to intonations and sounds of voices.

• Reacts in interaction with others by smiling, looking and moving.

• Quietens or alerts to the sound of speech.

Speaking

Speaking (Birth to 11 months)

• Makes own sounds in response when talked to by familiar adults.

• Practises and gradually develops speech sounds (babbling) to communicate with adults; says sounds like ‘baba, nono, gogo’.

Physical development

Moving and handling (Birth to 11 months)

• Turns head in response to sounds and sights.

• Makes movements with arms and legs which gradually become more controlled.

Personal, social and emotional development

Self-confidence and self-awareness (Birth to 11 months)

• Laughs and gurgles, e.g. shows pleasure at being tickled and other physical interactions.

• Uses voice, gesture, eye contact and facial expression to make contact with people and keep their attention.

Managing feelings and behaviour (Birth to 11 months)

  • Shows a range of emotions such as pleasure, fear and excitement.

Making relationships (Birth to 11 months)

• Enjoys the company of others and seeks contact with others from birth.

• Responds when talked to, for example, moves arms and legs, changes facial expression, moves body and makes mouth movements.

• Recognises and is most responsive to main carer’s voice: face brightens, activity increases when familiar carer appears.