Finding hidden objects: how the skill grows from 12 to 30 months
Finding hidden objects means searching for something after it disappears under a blanket, inside a box or behind your back. Hide-and-find games show that a child knows things still exist out of sight, and they stretch memory a little further each time.
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Finding hidden objects: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Uncovers a fully hidden toy. Lifts the cloth straight away after watching you cover the toy completely.
Activities that fit this step
- Colander Cage Peekaboo · 12–17 months · 3–6 min
- Scarf in a Tube Pull · 12–18 months · 3–8 min
- Tissue Box Scarf Pull and Stuff · 12–18 months · 3–8 min
Next step: Follows a move. Finds a ball you moved from under one cup to under another while they watched.
Activities that fit this step
- Scarf in a Tube Pull · 12–18 months · 3–8 min
- Tissue Box Scarf Pull and Stuff · 12–18 months · 3–8 min
- Towel Roll Surprise · 13–20 months · 5–12 min
Next step: Searches more than one place. Checks the second and third spots when the toy is not in the first.
Activities that fit this step
- Two Lumps Under the Blanket · 14–22 months · 3–8 min
- Muffin Tin Snack Hunt · 16–26 months · 5–12 min
- Egg Carton Latch Surprise · 17–25 months · 4–10 min
Next step: Remembers where things live. Walks to the shoe basket in the hall when you mention going out.
Activities that fit this step
- Egg Carton Latch Surprise · 17–25 months · 4–10 min
- Puzzle Piece Cushion Hunt · 18–32 months · 5–12 min
- Which Cup? Toddler Shell Game · 24–34 months · 5–10 min
Top of the ladder (remembers where things live). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Puzzle Piece Cushion Hunt · 18–32 months · 5–12 min
- Which Cup? Toddler Shell Game · 24–34 months · 5–10 min
- Tissue Box Mystery Feel · 30–36 months · 5–10 min
The finding hidden objects ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 30 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Uncovers a peeking toy
Pulls a towel off a toy whose ear is still sticking out.
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Uncovers a fully hidden toy
Lifts the cloth straight away after watching you cover the toy completely.
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Follows a move
Finds a ball you moved from under one cup to under another while they watched.
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Searches more than one place
Checks the second and third spots when the toy is not in the first.
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Remembers where things live
Walks to the shoe basket in the hall when you mention going out.
When finding hidden objects usually shows up
Looking for a toy after watching you hide it, for example under a blanket, is a CDC 12-month milestone. Through the second year children get better at tracking a toy that is moved to a second hiding place, and later at searching for something hidden while they were not watching.
This page follows finding hidden objects from 12 to 30 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month, 18-month, 24-month and 30-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 10 activities practise finding hidden objects (6 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 36 months. 3 of them need no prep and take 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 12 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve finding hidden objects. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Searches for a toy after watching you hide it, for example under a blanket. |
Activities that practise finding hidden objects
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 8 cognitive and 2 fine motor. Quickest to start: Colander Cage Peekaboo (3–6 minutes).
Step 1: Uncovers a peeking toy
Step 2: Uncovers a fully hidden toy
Step 3: Follows a move
Step 4: Searches more than one place
Step 5: Remembers where things live
Skills practised alongside
The activities for finding hidden objects most often also work on problem solving (4), cause and effect (1), finger feeding (1), knob puzzles (1) and matching (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Play peekaboo with toys under a towel or a see-through scarf before using a solid blanket.
- Hide a toy under one of two upturned cups while your child watches, then let them lift.
- Keep shoes, books and bath toys in the same spots so your child can practise finding them in daily life.
- Let your child hide something for you and act surprised when you "find" it.
What to avoid
- Hiding things too well too soon; quick success is what keeps a toddler searching.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If by 12 months your child does not look for a toy they just watched you hide, or seems to lose interest the moment something is out of view, mention it at the checkup alongside anything you notice about their vision.
Worried about finding hidden objects between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start finding hidden objects?
Looking for a toy after watching you hide it, for example under a blanket, is a CDC 12-month milestone. Through the second year children get better at tracking a toy that is moved to a second hiding place, and later at searching for something hidden while they were not watching. The first step to look for: pulls a towel off a toy whose ear is still sticking out.
How can I help my toddler with finding hidden objects?
Play peekaboo with toys under a towel or a see-through scarf before using a solid blanket. Hide a toy under one of two upturned cups while your child watches, then let them lift. A good first activity is Colander Cage Peekaboo (12–17 months).
What should I avoid when practising finding hidden objects?
Hiding things too well too soon; quick success is what keeps a toddler searching.
When should I mention finding hidden objects to the pediatrician?
If by 12 months your child does not look for a toy they just watched you hide, or seems to lose interest the moment something is out of view, mention it at the checkup alongside anything you notice about their vision. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.