Three Paper Tents

Step by step

1. 1Fold 2, then 3 sheets of paper into sturdy "tents" and pick a small favorite toy.
2. 2Right in front of your baby, slowly hide the toy under one tent, making it clearly visible.
3. 3Ask "where did the duck go?" with a playful, exaggerated shrug.
4. 4Let them lift the tents and search. Cheer when they find it, without overdoing it. If they squash the tents along the way, reshaping them is all part of the fun.
5. 5Add a third tent, then, around 15-18 months, sneak the toy from one tent to another to make the search trickier.
6. 6Switch roles: let your baby hide the toy, while you spend a good while "searching" before you find it.

What it builds

Finding a completely hidden toy helps your baby remember something they can no longer see. It is a great memory workout—the very same skill that helps them realize you always come back after leaving the room.