Find the three hidden things

2–3 years · Cognitive · 8 minutes

What you need

How to do it

Show your child three objects, then hide them around one room while they wait — in easy places, partly visible at first.

Tell them how many there are and let them hunt. Keep the count out loud: 'you found two — one more to go.'

When all three are found, let them hide them for you. Watching where they choose tells you a lot about what they think you can see.

Why it works

Searching for a known number of items requires holding the target in mind while scanning, which is sustained attention with a goal attached. Keeping the count aloud gives the child a running sense of progress that keeps the search going.