TinyStepper
Girl with wavy dark hair threading colourful beads with a posting box and pegboard nearby

Mummy/Daddy Comes Back Game

Parent hides briefly behind furniture and always returns with a big greeting.

Activity details

12m–2y7 minsmediumindoorNo prep

Instructions

Get ready
  • Start visible: 'I'm going to hide, and then I'll come back!'
  • Duck behind the sofa for 3-5 seconds
  1. Start visible: 'I'm going to hide, and then I'll come back!'
  2. Duck behind the sofa for 3-5 seconds
  3. Pop back up with a smile: 'I came back! I always come back!'
  4. Repeat, gradually extending the hiding time
  5. Add distance: hide behind a door in the same room
  6. Then briefly step into the next room (keep talking so they hear you)
  7. Always return with warmth: a hug, a smile, 'Here I am!'
  8. Let your toddler hide too — role reversal builds confidence

Parent tip

Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.

Toddler at a table with a completed puzzle and neatly sorted blocks in a bright aha moment

What success looks like

Intense focus, even briefly. Watch for the small ‘aha’ moment when they figure out how something works.

A structured, gradual version of peekaboo for toddlers working through separation anxiety. Hide behind a sofa or door for a few seconds, then reappear with a warm 'I came back!' Gradually increase the duration. Each repetition teaches the most important lesson: when someone leaves, they come back. The game format keeps it playful and gives the child predictability and control.

Why it helps

The NHS Best Start in Life programme acknowledges that separation anxiety is a normal developmental stage, and recommends consistent, reassuring routines to help toddlers build confidence that their carer will return. This game helps build the emotional certainty that a departure always leads to a reunion. Each successful 'return' strengthens the connection between leaving and coming back. The gradual increase in duration teaches the child's nervous system that longer separations are also safe. Keeping it playful prevents the anxiety response from activating during practise.

Variations

  • Use a blanket to hide under instead of furniture.
  • Call out from your hiding spot: 'Where's Mummy? I'm still here!'
  • For older toddlers, add counting: 'Count to five and I'll be back — one, two...'

Safety tips

  • Never hide for so long that your toddler becomes genuinely distressed.
  • Stay within earshot and respond immediately if they cry.
  • Keep hiding spots safe — behind furniture, not in enclosed spaces.

Want to try another?

Blanket Peek and Crawl

Get weekly activity ideas for your toddler

One email a week with practical toddler activities, behaviour tips, and developmental insights. No spam, unsubscribe any time.