Secret Toy Hide-and-Seek
Discover How Many Toys are Hidden!
Area of Learning
Schema
Mathematics, Communication and Language
Enveloping
What You'll Need:
Small toys: Prepare a set of five small toys that are suitable for hiding under a blanket. Choose toys that are safe and appropriate for your child's age.
Blanket: Use a blanket or a large piece of fabric to cover and hide the toys. Make sure it is large enough to fully conceal the hidden toys.
What to do
Step 1: Gather the toys: Collect a set of five small toys suitable for hiding under a blanket. Ensure they are safe and appropriate for your child's age.
Step 2: Set up the activity area: Find a comfortable and spacious area to play. Place the toys on a flat surface, such as a table or the floor.
Step 3: Introduce the activity: Explain to your child that you will be hiding some of the toys under a blanket and their task is to figure out how many toys are hidden. Spark their excitement by framing it as a detective mission or a treasure hunt.
Step 4: Hide the toys: Cover some of the toys with the blanket, leaving the rest uncovered. Make sure the hidden toys are fully concealed.
Step 5: Engage in detective work: Encourage your child to observe the visible toys and make deductions about the hidden ones. Guide them to count the visible toys and think critically about the total number.
Step 6: Support their problem-solving: Offer hints, prompts, and gentle guidance as needed. Encourage them to use strategies such as counting, elimination, or comparison to determine the number of hidden toys.
Step 7: Uncover the mystery: Once your child has made their guess, unveil the hidden toys by removing the blanket. Compare their guess with the actual number of hidden toys, celebrating their success and discussing any differences.
Extend the Activity
Repeat and extend: Repeat the activity with different arrangements of hidden toys, increasing the complexity by adjusting the number of toys or using different hiding techniques. This helps to reinforce counting skills and logical thinking.
Reflect and discuss: After each round, engage in a conversation with your child. Ask questions like "How did you figure out the number of hidden toys?" or "What strategies did you use?" This reflection enhances their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Vocabulary Toolbox
Conceal, Deduct, Observe, Detective, Treasure hunt, Clue, Guess, Count, Total, Hidden, Uncover, Elimination, Comparison, Strategy, Arrangement, Reflection, Problem-solving, Curiosity, Experiment.