Play activity 8 - going, going, gone...

This activity develops: object permanence, problem solving, intentional movement, looking and spatial awareness.

What’s in the box?

• Three flannels
• Cup
• Ball
• Spoon
• Keys

Activities

• Show the child one item, name it and describe it.
• Then place it under one of the flannels.
• Encourage the child to find the item by lifting the cover.
• Encourage the child to drop in one item, then shake the tin to see what sounds are made. Empty the tin then try another item.
• Once they have found the items, encourage them to explore again, naming the item and describing it.
• Give constant praise once the item has been found.

Moving on

• Show the child one item - place it on their left-hand side.
• Show them another object - place it on their right-hand side.
• Cover both objects with a flannel and see if the child can locate one of the items (this can be done through any form of communication the child uses, for example, touch, eye pointing, smiling).
• Enjoys filling and emptying containers.

Observation and assessment

• Use a brightly coloured or black cloth to ensure maximum contrast against surfaces.
• Place items within the child’s reach.
• Use your tone of voice to demonstrate anticipation.
• Make notes of the response each object gets.
• Introduce positional language, in front of, on top of, behind, and so on.

Inclusion guide

• Do a whole group treasure hunt – using positional language when children are looking for things.
• Play pass the parcel games using different shaped containers inside each other – talk about the size and shape.