Peekaboo facts for kids
Peekaboo (also spelled peek-a-boo) is a fun game often played with babies. To play, one person hides their face, then quickly shows it again, saying "Peekaboo!" Sometimes they add "I see you!" There are many ways to play. For example, if you are near a tree, you might say "Hiding behind that tree!" Another way is to say "Where's the baby?" while your face is covered, then "There's the baby!" when you uncover it.
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What is Peekaboo?
Peekaboo is a simple game that brings joy to both babies and adults. It uses a basic idea found in many jokes: surprise mixed with what you expect to happen. This makes the game exciting and predictable at the same time.
Why Do We Play Peekaboo?
This game is more than just fun; it helps babies learn important things. Experts who study how children grow, called developmental psychologists, believe peekaboo helps babies understand something called object permanence.
Understanding Object Permanence
Object permanence is a big step in how babies learn and think. It means knowing that something still exists even when you can't see it. For very young babies, if they can't see something, they might think it's gone forever.
A famous psychologist named Jean Piaget studied this. He did experiments with babies and found that most babies start to understand object permanence around eight or nine months old. Before this age, they might not fully grasp that a hidden toy or person is still there. When you play peekaboo, you help them learn that even though your face disappears, it will come back!
Peekaboo and Communication
Some researchers compare peekaboo to a simple conversation. A linguist named Iris Nomikou noted that the game has a clear back-and-forth pattern, just like talking. Other experts call it a "protoconversation." This means it's a very early form of talking. Playing peekaboo teaches babies about the timing and structure of social interactions. They learn to take turns and understand how conversations work, even before they can speak words.
