Playing hide and seek helps children practise following simple instructions and is a great fun game for the two of you to play together.
Watch the video below for some inspiration.
Talk through everywhere you or your child is looking using lots of words for positions like 'under' or 'behind', the more you repeat these words, the more likely children will learn them.
The benefits of playing hide and seek with toddlers
- Hide and seek is a real mood booster - they're bound to get smiles and laughs out of looking for you or a toy
- It gives children practice in following simple instructions
- If you talk as you look, they'll hear plenty of words for positions like 'under' or 'behind'
How to play hide and seek with toddlers
- You could either hide yourself, or like in the film, you could try hiding one of your child's favourite toys
- Take turns to be the one hiding while the other one closes their eyes.
- As your child is looking, name the places they're looking as they go - 'is it under the slide? no… is it behind the bushes?'
- When they find the toy or you, give them plenty of praise.
- When it's their turn to hide, again, talk through where you're looking in the same way 'I wonder where it is… is it in the hedge?'
- Try playing indoors or outdoors
Other games to play with toddlers
There are lots of games you could play with your 18 month - 2 year old.
- You could try playing simple copying games to teach them about taking turns
- You could grab a few household items and a cardboard box to play a game of 'tap, tap box'
- You could make your own sock puppets for storytelling fun
Talk through everywhere you or your child is looking using lots of words for positions like 'under' or 'behind', the more you repeat these words, the more likely children will learn them.
