TinyStepper

Cloth Peek-a-Boo Basket

At a glance: Hide small toys under scarves in a basket for your toddler to discover. A 8-minute, low-energy indoor activity for ages 12m–2y.

Built by a parent of toddlersBest for 12m-2y

Field-tested ideas shaped by direct parenting experience and advice from reputable sources, including NHS Best Start in Life and NSPCC child development research.

12m–2y8 minslow energyindoornone mess

This enhanced peek-a-boo game supports object permanence, the understanding that things exist when hidden. Reaching into the basket, grasping fabric, and pulling it aside builds fine motor control and creates delightful surprise that toddlers want to repeat. The reveal-and-hide cycle also provides emotional reassurance for children working through separation anxiety.

Best for this moment

for calmer, lower-pressure moments, especially when you need an indoor option.

Parent tip

Set out basket or bin and scarves or fabric before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

What success looks like

A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in cognitive skills.

More help for this situation

Instructions

Get ready
  • Gather a basket or bin and several small scarves or pieces of fabric
  • Collect a few small, familiar toys your child loves
  1. Gather a basket or bin and several small scarves or pieces of fabric
  2. Collect a few small, familiar toys your child loves
  3. While they watch, hide a toy under a scarf inside the basket
  4. Ask excitedly: 'Where did teddy go?'
  5. Encourage them to reach in and pull the scarf away
  6. Celebrate the discovery: 'You found it! Peekaboo!'
  7. Let them try hiding toys for you to find
  8. Vary the game by using multiple scarves layered over the toy

Why it helps

This enhanced peek-a-boo supports object permanence — the understanding that things exist when hidden. Reaching, grasping, and pulling fabric builds fine motor control, and the reveal-and-hide cycle provides emotional reassurance for children working through separation anxiety.

Variations

  • Layer multiple scarves over the toy for a multi-step reveal.
  • Use different textured fabrics — silk, cotton, fleece — for sensory variety.
  • Hide toys in different rooms and give simple verbal clues to find each one.

Safety tips

  • Use lightweight, breathable fabric that does not pose a suffocation risk.
  • Ensure all hidden toys are too large to be a choking hazard.
  • Supervise closely to prevent fabric being wrapped around the neck.

When to pause and seek extra support

Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.

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