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Purposeful Play

Memory, Learning and Your Baby

By C.J. Johnson

Through interactions with parents, repetitive play and a bit of peek-a-boo, a child's memory expands and learning begins. According to Developmental Specialist Brenda Hussey-Gardner, Ph.D., the first sign of memory in children comes when they understand object permanence near 6 months of age.

Once a child develops this form of memory, he can begin to learn other concepts. "As the child gets older, his memory becomes more sophisticated, and the scope and complexity of what he is able to learn expands," she says.

Peek-a-boo is more than fun and games when it comes to learning for infants because it helps the child understand object permanence. This cognitive development involves knowing that objects and people exist even when they can't be seen. Parents will know that their child is beginning to develop object permanence or memory when their child continues to look at a toy that they cover with a cloth.

Parents can encourage memory development through a variety of games. Hussey-Gardner suggests that parents can hide a toy under a washcloth and watch to see if their child looks away or continues to look at the cloth. If the child looks away, parents can take off the washcloth and say, "Peek-a-boo! Here's the toy!" If the child continues to look at the cloth, parents can ask, "Where's your toy?" and let the child try to take off the cloth by himself in order to find the toy.

While playing the game of covering the toy with a cloth, children will have different reactions. "If the child looks away or is unable to uncover the toy, parents can try covering only half of the toy," says Hussey-Gardner. "This will allow their child to see part of the toy and make it easier to find. If their child needs even more help, they can try hiding a toy that makes music or some other sound. In addition to seeing half of the toy, he will be able to hear it."

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