Looking for a great game to play with your baby? That old standby peekaboo is still one of the best baby games ever invented. You can play it anytime, anywhere.
And because your parents played it with you, it’s not like you have to learn the rules to start playing it with your little one. Best of all, peekaboo has staying power and will delight your cutie well into toddlerhood.
What is peekaboo?
Peekaboo is a classic hide-and-seek game: You cover your face and uncover it while saying, “Peekaboo! I see you!” Another variation is to say “peekaboo” when you cover your face, and “I see you” when you uncover it.
No matter how you play it, peekaboo stimulates a baby's senses, helps build gross motor skills, strengthens visual tracking, encourages social development and, best of all, tickles her sense of humor.
Plus, peekaboo helps reinforce object permanence, the idea that even though your child can't see something like your smiling face — it still exists.
When do babies play peekaboo?
Is there a perfect peekaboo age? Not necessarily. Object recognition develops around month 3, and babies start to better understand the concept of object permanence by month 8. By months 9 to 12, your baby will likely be able to play peekaboo on her own.
In other words, babies of all ages can benefit from peekaboo. That said, once babies begin to laugh aloud (around 3 to 4 months), peekaboo becomes more fun for both of you. Now your cutie has a new way to show her surprise and delight.
Playing peekaboo with your baby
Almost any time a baby is awake and alert (and well-rested and fed!) is a good time to play peekaboo. In fact, the more practice a baby gets with games like peekaboo, ones that combine visual development, gross motor skills and social interaction, the better it is for her growing baby brain.
Sources: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/peek-a-boo/
