Peek-a-Boo Word Game

3-4 favorite soft toys or board books (taste-safe, no small parts)

A lightweight cloth or muslin blanket for hiding

Gather 3-4 favorite soft toys and a lightweight cloth.

Sit on the floor with baby facing you.

Show baby one toy and name it clearly: "Look, it's a bunny! Bunny!"

Cover the toy with the cloth. Say with suspense: "Where did the bunny go?"

Pause 3-5 seconds to build anticipation.

Pull the cloth away: "PEEK-A-BOO! There's the bunny!"

Repeat with each toy, naming it every time: "Now it's a duck. Duck! Where did the duck go?"

See if baby tries to pull the cloth off themselves. When they do, name the toy enthusiastically.

This game does double duty: it builds vocabulary (naming each toy) AND teaches object permanence (things still exist when you can't see them). Both are critical for language development.

Repetition is your friend. Use the same words each time — "Where did the ____ go?" and "There's the ____!" The predictable pattern helps baby focus on the changing word.

Around 8-10 months, baby will start pulling the cloth off independently. This is a huge cognitive milestone — celebrate it!

Once baby gets good at this, try hiding two toys and asking "Where's the bunny?" to see if they uncover the right one. That shows they're connecting the word to the object.