Kidoloo
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Peekaboo With a Cloth

A tea towel and the most reliable laugh in the house.

For ages6 mo - 2y
Time available10 min
Prep0 min
Mess
Noise
YouYes, I will join in

The simplest game there is, and one of the most developmentally important things you can do with a baby.

What you need

  • a tea towel or muslin

How to do it

  1. Sit facing your baby, close enough to touch.
  2. Put a light cloth over your own face and pause for a second.
  3. Pull it away and say the same word every time.
  4. Once they laugh, pause slightly longer before revealing.
  5. Let them pull the cloth off you, then try it over their head.

Why this is good for them

Peekaboo is how babies learn object permanence, the understanding that things still exist when they cannot be seen. The pause before the reveal is the important part, because it builds anticipation and teaches that waiting has a payoff.

Adapting by age

6 to 12 monthsKeep the pause very short. Long waits become distressing rather than exciting.
18 months to 2 yearsHide a toy under the cloth instead of your face and ask where it went.

Keep it safe

Use a light, breathable cloth and never leave it over a babys face.

Cleanup tip

None.

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