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Thinking play

Hide the Object

One player hides a small object in the room and everyone hunts for it in turns.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home: one player hides a small object in the room and everyone hunts for it in turns.
  • Age3 to 6 years
  • Time5 to 15 minutes
  • EnergyModerate
  • CostFree
  • WhereIndoors or out
  • PrepNone

A finding game where one player hides a chosen object somewhere in the room and the others search for it, often with the hider saying whether searchers are getting near. Practises careful looking and remembering where things could be.

How to do it

  1. Pick one object to hide, sised so it is safe for the youngest player.
  2. Everyone except the hider closes their eyes or waits in another spot.
  3. The hider places the object somewhere in view but not obvious, then calls the seekers back.
  4. Seekers hunt for the object; the hider can say "getting close" or "further away" to guide them if needed.
  5. Whoever finds it hides it next, so everyone gets a turn to hide and seek.

What you need

  • Small object

Make it yours

Younger, 3-4 years: Hide the object in easy, open places and cheer every find; use a larger object. Older, 5-6 years: Hide it more cleverly, add a time limit, or use pure near-and-far clues. Group or siblings: Seekers hunt together and the first to find it hides next.

Try this with your child.

Tell PLAI™ about your child and this moment. It shapes the activity to fit.

Try it in the app