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

Peekaboo Scarf Play

Play peekaboo using colourful scarves or light fabric.

Activity details

12m–2y8 minsmediumindoorNo prepScarves or Fabric

Instructions

Get ready
  • Gather 2-3 lightweight scarves or pieces of sheer fabric
  • Drape a scarf over your face and say 'Where did I go?'
  1. Gather 2-3 lightweight scarves or pieces of sheer fabric
  2. Drape a scarf over your face and say 'Where did I go?'
  3. Pull it away with a big 'Peekaboo!'
  4. Gently drape a scarf over your child's head
  5. Let them pull it off themselves while you cheer
  6. Wave scarves in the air and let them float down
  7. Play hide-and-find: cover a toy with a scarf for them to discover
  8. Name the colours as you play: 'Here comes the blue one!'
  9. Let them stuff scarves into a box and pull them back out

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.

An enhanced version of the classic peekaboo game that uses lightweight scarves to add visual interest and sensory variety. Peekaboo is not just a fun game; it actively teaches object permanence, the understanding that things still exist even when hidden from view. Using different coloured scarves adds vocabulary opportunities, and the flowing fabric movement captivates early walkers while encouraging them to pull, wave, and drape the scarves on their own.

Why it helps

Peekaboo actively teaches object permanence — the understanding that things still exist when hidden. Using scarves adds vocabulary opportunities and fine motor practice as children pull, wave, and drape the fabric. The predictable reveal is deeply reassuring for babies working through separation anxiety. The EYFS framework identifies hands-on exploration and problem-solving as the foundations for mathematical and scientific thinking later on.

Variations

  • Use different coloured scarves and name each colour as it appears.
  • Toss the scarf in the air and catch it together — watch it float down slowly.
  • Play with a mirror so your toddler can see themselves appear and disappear.

Safety tips

  • Use lightweight, breathable fabric that does not restrict breathing if draped over the face.
  • Keep scarves short enough that they cannot wrap around the neck.
  • Supervise to ensure fabric is not stuffed into the mouth.

Want to try another?

Blanket Peek and Crawl

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