IF YOU'VE EVER ENJOYED THE GAME OF "PEEK-A-BOO" WITH A FIVE MONTH OLD, YOU MAY BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HAVE HELPED ADVANCE THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR LITTLE ONE.
What Montessori child doesn't enjoy the classic "What's Missing Game"...even when she is a baby!
In the Montessori Preschool environment, we often reinforce concepts with the "What's Missing Game" because it is so appealing to young children. This fun game has it's roots in the "Peek-a-Boo" games that babies love to play from an early age.
UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF
"OBJECT PERMANENCE"
At around five or six months of age, Baby is beginning to explore the concept of “object permanence”, which is the
understanding that objects still exist even when they can’t be seen (such
as when it is dark or the object is under a blanket). During this stage of development, a small night lite at the bedside may be helpful if your baby is waking up in a fretful mood during the night. This kind of proactive support for your child enhances her emotional development throughout early childhood. As well, playing Peek-a-Boo games starts to become very engaging for the Baby at this stage.
Peek-A-Boo
becomes a favorite as Baby naturally explores the concept of “object
permanence”. Likewise, your baby may begin to cry when you are out of sight, since
s/he is struggling to understand that you still exist even though s/he can’t actually
see you. Understanding the permanence of
objects is an important and an on-going process for the young child, spanning several years in early childhood. That's probably why Peek-a-Boo and Hide-n-Seek games are so popular with young children.
In the Lesson below, you’ll find some extensions for the treasure basket activities
that are Montessori-style “What’s Missing
Games”. Not only are the games lots of fun, they also
help Baby’s developing understanding of “object permanence.”
In my Montessori Baby-Ed "Nido Basket" #5, I have included a treasure basket with baby-friendly shaker instruments. This is, of course, an activity for making music and stimulating Baby's auditory sense. However, we can also offer our baby some activities that aid in cognitive development by adding colorful scarves to the treasure basket.
Here is a photo of the five-month-old baby's shelf from my upcoming Montessori Baby-Ed eCourse. The shaker instruments are in the basket on the lower right side of the shelf.
THE LESSON
1. Invite Baby to explore the
Instruments Basket.
2. Take Baby to the shelf
where the Instruments Basket is stored and remove it. Then, place the basket on the floor next to Baby
(Visual stimulation)
3. Next,
remove the Double Shaker Egg from the
basket, grasp it and shake it. (Auditory discrimination and small muscle
development)
4. Place
Double Shaker Egg on the floor and roll
it, so that Baby is enticed to creep
after it. (Auditory stimulation and encourages large motor development)
5. Give Baby the vocabulary:
“Rolling”, “Shaker Egg Rattle”, etc. (Development of Language)
6. Help Baby to grasp the rattle and
shake it herself. (Stimulates auditory sense and develops the small
muscle of the hand)
7. Help Baby put the rattle back
in the basket. (Aids in the child’s desire for order in the
environment)
8. Then,
remove the Wooden Shaker Ball from the
basket, grasp it and shake it. (Auditory discrimination and small muscle
development)
9. Continue by following Steps #4, 5, 6, and
7, this time, encouraging Baby to explore the Wooden Shaker Ball from the Treasure Basket, if s/he is interested (Encourages
independence)
10. Observe and adjust
to Baby’s preferences.
11. ****If you haven’t done so already, I recommend setting up a sturdy child-size shelf in
Baby’s daytime play area. This begins the process of keeping an organized
environment for the child in which there is a place for everything and
everything in its place.
12. You can place Baby’s
rattles, ball, and block that you have assembled from Nido Basket #1, #2, #3, and #4 in little soft “treasure baskets" on the shelf.
13. Smaller baskets lined up on
a low shelf work better for children (as opposed to a larger box filled with an array of toys). Each basket has a purpose and is
well-thought out by the adult.
14. I suggest collecting small
& medium sized baby-friendly baskets, boxes, and trays that are made of
woods, cloths, and natural reeds. These can be filled with
Baby-Ed Activities and gradually added to and alternated on Baby’s shelf during
the next months.
15. In the beginning, place no
more than 3 items in a basket. (2 is perfect for the
Infant.)
EXTENSIONS TO THE LESSON
USING COLORFUL SCARVES
Peek-a-Boo
Game
·
Place both Shakers on the floor
near Baby
·
Cover the Shakers with one of the
scarves
·
Say: “Where did the Shakers go?”
·
Pull the scarf away and say: ”Peek-a-Boo”!
What’s
Missing Game
·
Place both Shakers on the floor
near Baby
·
Fold a scarf so that you can’t see
through it
·
Place the folded scarf over the
Shaker that is to the left of
Baby
·
Say: “Where did the Shaker Ball
go?”
·
Pull the scarf away and say:
“Peek-a-Boo”!
·
As Baby gets older, the game
changes and instead, you
would say: “What’s missing?”
·
Pull the scarf away and say: “The
Shaker Ball!”
Don't forget! Playing "Peek-A-Boo" by placing one of the scarves over your own head is, of course, another delightful way to reinforce the learning of "object permanence" with your baby.
My upcoming Montessori Baby-Ed eCourse is almost ready for enrollment! This eCourse features eight Activity Lesson Plans for your baby each month, with Instructional Videos and a Pdf download containing links to resources to create your own Montessori "Nido Baskets" for your little one.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND TO GET ON MY WAIT LIST FOR THE COURSE
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This Blog post is part of the "Montessori Monday Link-up" at the Living Montessori Now site, your "Go-To" place for activities, resources and useful information for your Montessori classroom or home environment!
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