15 Easy Object Permanence Activities for Babies
Simple hide-and-find games you can try at home using everyday objects, plus ways to make each activity easier or more challenging.
⭐ 30-Second Object Permanence Game
Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t search immediately. The goal is to give them an opportunity to explore what happens when an object disappears from view.
Simple games where a baby gets opportunities to experience an object disappearing from view and then finding or seeing it again. AAP describes peekaboo and hiding games as ways babies can continue exploring object permanence. (HealthyChildren)
🎯 Pick an Activity
15 Easy Object Permanence Activities
🟢 LEVEL 1 — Simple Disappearing & Reappearing
1. Classic Peekaboo
⭐ Difficulty: Very EasyWhat you need: Nothing. How to play: Hide your face behind your hands, pause, reveal. “Where did Mama/Dada go? Peekaboo!” What to watch for: Staring, smiling, waiting, vocalizing, reaching, anticipating.
Why it’s useful: It gives babies repeated experiences of someone disappearing and reappearing. AAP recommends peekaboo as a way to help babies explore object permanence. (HealthyChildren)
2. Toy Behind Your Back
⭐ Difficulty: Very EasyWhat you need: One familiar toy. How to play: Show the toy clearly, move it behind your back, pause, bring it back. Make it easier: Keep part visible. Make it harder: Hide the entire toy.
3. Partially Hidden Toy
⭐ Difficulty: Very EasyWhat you need: Toy + cloth. How to play: Place a toy under a cloth but leave part visible. Progression: 25% covered → 50% → 75% → completely covered.
🟡 LEVEL 2 — Baby Starts Searching
4. “Where’s the Toy?”
⭐⭐ Difficulty: EasyWhat you need: Container + toy. How to play: Put the toy inside while baby watches. Ask: “Where did it go?” Let them investigate.
5. Cloth Hide-and-Find
⭐⭐ Difficulty: EasyWhat you need: Lightweight cloth + toy. How to play: Show the toy, put it on the floor, slowly cover it, pause, let baby uncover it. AAP notes that around 8 months babies may lift a scarf to search for a toy underneath. (HealthyChildren)
6. Toy Under a Cup
⭐⭐ Difficulty: EasyWhat you need: Large, sturdy, age-appropriate container + toy. How to play: Hide the toy while baby watches. Let them try to lift the container. Important: Don’t use tiny objects or containers that create a choking or entrapment risk.
7. Two-Cup Hide-and-Find
⭐⭐ Difficulty: EasyWhat you need: 2 containers + toy. How to play: Place the toy under one cup while baby watches. Ask: “Where is the toy?” Progression: 1 cup → 2 cups → change positions. Don’t turn it into a “test.” It’s a game.
8. Hide It in a Box
⭐⭐ Difficulty: EasyWhat you need: Safe, open container + toy. How to play: Baby watches you put the object inside. Let them retrieve it.
🟠 LEVEL 3 — Make the Search More Interesting
9. Behind the Pillow
⭐⭐ Difficulty: EasyWhat you need: Large cushion/pillow + toy. How to play: Place a familiar toy behind a large cushion while baby watches. Leave enough visible at first, then gradually hide more. Important: This is a supervised awake-time play activity, not a sleep activity.
10. Hide Behind a Door
⭐⭐ Difficulty: EasyWhat you need: Parent. How to play: Stand behind a door, leave your hand or foot visible, then disappear. Let baby look for you. AAP recommends variations of peekaboo where a parent hides behind a door or furniture while leaving a visible clue. (HealthyChildren)
11. “Which Hand?”
⭐⭐⭐ Difficulty: IntermediateWhat you need: Toy. How to play: Put a toy in one hand, close both hands, ask “Where’s the toy?” Let baby choose. Nuance: Don’t present this as a scientific test. It’s simply another playful hiding game.
🔵 LEVEL 4 — More Challenging
12. Change the Hiding Place
⭐⭐⭐ Difficulty: IntermediateWhat you need: 2 locations + toy. How to play: Show the toy going into the left box, then move it to the right while they watch. Ask: “Where did it go?”
13. The “Drop and Find” Game
⭐⭐⭐ Difficulty: IntermediateWhat you need: Safe container + age-appropriate object. How to play: Let baby drop an object into a large safe container. Watch it disappear, then find it. AAP notes that babies in the 8–12 month period often explore objects by dropping, rolling, throwing. (HealthyChildren) See Why Do Babies Drop Everything?
14. Object Permanence Box
⭐⭐⭐ Difficulty: IntermediateWhat you need: Object permanence box + ball. How to play: Baby places the ball into the opening, it disappears, waits, rolls out, and baby retrieves it. The appeal: The baby can perform the action rather than simply watching you hide something. See Montessori Object Permanence Box: How It Works
15. “You Hide It”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Difficulty: AdvancedWhat you need: Toy + container. How to play: Let your baby participate. Give them the object. Let them hold → place → hide → search → retrieve. The activity becomes: Baby does it → Baby watches → Baby searches → Baby finds → Baby repeats.
Make Object Permanence Games Easier or Harder
Which Activities Are Best for Different Ages?
| Stage | Try |
|---|---|
| Early infancy | Face/peekaboo variations |
| Around 4–6 months | Partially hidden objects |
| Around 6–8 months | Simple cloth hiding |
| Around 8–10 months | Toy under cloth/container |
| Around 10–12+ months | Changing hiding locations |
| More advanced | Object permanence box / independent search |
CDC includes “looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket” as a 1-year milestone. (CDC)
What If My Baby Doesn’t Find the Toy?
Possible reasons: tired, hungry, activity too difficult, distracted, more interested in another object, haven’t encountered this type of game much yet, still developing the relevant skills.
What to do: Make it easier.
The 5-Second Pause
Parents often immediately reveal the toy. Instead: SHOW → HIDE → WAIT. Give baby a moment. Try pausing for a few seconds before helping. This lets the baby attempt the search independently.
What Should I Say?
Keep the language simple and repetitive.
These activities are for play and exploration, not for determining whether your baby “has” or “doesn’t have” object permanence.
Instead: Play → pause → observe → help → celebrate → repeat.
Object Permanence vs Cause & Effect
“It’s hidden, but it still exists.”
“When I do this, that happens.”
Are These Montessori Object Permanence Activities?
Many of these activities are Montessori-inspired because they use simple materials, repetition, hands-on exploration and opportunities for the baby to act independently.
Best Montessori-inspired activities: Cloth hiding, container search, object permanence box, drop-and-find, simple object retrieval.
🧩 Find an Activity for Your Baby
0–4 mo 4–6 mo 6–8 mo 8–10 mo 10–12+ mo
🙌 Nothing 🧣 Cloth 🧸 Toy 📦 Container 📦 OP Box
⏱️ 1 min ⏱️ 5 min ⏱️ 10 min
✨ GENERATE
Want a Dedicated Object Permanence Activity?
HA’BABY Montessori Object Permanence Box for Babies – Wooden Learning Activity Box with Ball, Sorting & Fine Motor Play
Instead of the parent repeatedly hiding the toy, the box lets the baby participate in the disappearance-and-reappearance cycle.
🛡️ Safety First: Keep Object Permanence Play Age-Appropriate
- ✅ Follow the toy’s age guidance – CPSC recommends choosing toys according to the child’s age, skills, interests and abilities. (CPSC)
- ✅ Avoid small parts – CPSC small-parts rules apply (CPSC)
- ✅ Be especially careful with small balls – don’t casually recommend small balls as an activity for babies
- ✅ Check objects before play – avoid sharp edges, broken pieces, loose components, tiny objects, objects that can break apart
- ✅ Supervise – especially when babies are mouthing objects
15 Activities at a Glance
| # | Activity | Difficulty | What You Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Peekaboo | ⭐ | Nothing |
| 2 | Toy Behind Your Back | ⭐ | Toy |
| 3 | Partially Hidden Toy | ⭐ | Toy + cloth |
| 4 | Where’s the Toy? | ⭐⭐ | Container + toy |
| 5 | Cloth Hide-and-Find | ⭐⭐ | Cloth + toy |
| 6 | Toy Under a Cup | ⭐⭐ | Large safe container |
| 7 | Two-Cup Search | ⭐⭐ | 2 containers + toy |
| 8 | Box Search | ⭐⭐ | Open container |
| 9 | Behind the Pillow | ⭐⭐ | Large cushion + toy |
| 10 | Find Me | ⭐⭐ | Parent |
| 11 | Which Hand? | ⭐⭐⭐ | Toy |
| 12 | Change the Hiding Place | ⭐⭐⭐ | 2 locations |
| 13 | Drop & Find | ⭐⭐⭐ | Container + object |
| 14 | Object Permanence Box | ⭐⭐⭐ | Activity box |
| 15 | Baby Hides It | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Toy + container |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are object permanence activities for babies?
How do I teach object permanence to my baby?
What is the easiest object permanence activity?
Does peekaboo teach object permanence?
What age can babies play object permanence games?
What object permanence activities can I do with a 6-month-old?
What object permanence activities can I do with an 8-month-old?
What object permanence activities can I do with a 10-month-old?
Why doesn’t my baby look for a hidden toy?
How long should I play object permanence games?
Can everyday household objects be used?
Can object permanence activities be Montessori-inspired?
What is an object permanence box?
Does an object permanence box teach object permanence?
Is object permanence the same as cause and effect?
Should I hide toys completely or partially?
Should I help my baby find the hidden object?
When should I discuss developmental concerns with a pediatrician?
🔄 Every Activity Follows the Same Learning Loop
15 Activities → One Simple Progression
Ready to Try Object Permanence Play?
Start with a simple game—peekaboo, cloth hiding, or a container search. Follow your baby’s lead and have fun exploring together.
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