Executive function
Toddlers watch a toy rabbit hop and then hide under one of two baskets, and help a caregiver remember where the rabbit is hiding.
Be Prepared: Select two baskets that are not identical. The toy rabbit should be able to fit fully under each of the two baskets.
[Invite several toddlers to join you to play a game. Show toddlers the toy rabbit and two baskets.]
Our little rabbit likes to hop, hop, hop and then hide! Let’s play a game of watching the rabbit hop and remembering where the rabbit hides.
Our rabbit likes to hide under baskets. Watch with your eyes to see where the rabbit goes.
[Turn the two baskets upside down and place them next to each other so the toddlers can see each basket.
Hop the rabbit around on the floor for a few seconds, always in front of toddlers. While the toddlers are watching, place the rabbit under one basket.]
The rabbit hopped under a basket. The rabbit is hiding!
I wonder where the rabbit is hiding! Did you watch where he went?
I am trying to remember which basket the rabbit is hiding under. Which basket should I look under first?
[Look under the empty basket first and have fun pretending you did not pay attention to where the rabbit hopped. Show excitement when you find the rabbit under the correct basket!]
The rabbit is going to hop, hop, hop and then hide again! This time I am going to watch closely and try to remember where he goes.
[Hop the rabbit on the floor, always in full view of the toddlers. Hide the rabbit in the other basket.]
The rabbit hopped under a basket. He is hiding from us again! Did you watch him? I am going to think hard to remember which basket he is hiding under.
[Look under the correct basket. Show excitement when you find the rabbit!]
I watched where the rabbit hopped. I thought hard to remember where he was hiding. I found the rabbit hiding under the basket!
Should the rabbit hop, hop, hop and hide again?
[Repeat if the toddlers appear interested.]
We watched and found our toy rabbit. You used your eyes to watch the rabbit hop and then hide. We could not see the rabbit after it went under a basket. We remembered where the rabbit went. We found the rabbit under a basket!
Executive function
A toddler practices, with caregiver support, watching and remembering where a hopping toy rabbit is hiding.
Be Prepared: Select three baskets that are not identical. Select a toy rabbit that will fully fit under each of the three baskets.
Invite one toddler to play a memory game with you. Introduce the rabbit and two baskets. Explain that the rabbit likes to hop, hop, hop and then hide. Introduce the memory game of finding the hidden rabbit. Example: “We are going to play a game of finding where the rabbit is hiding! We are going to watch where the rabbit goes, and then remember where the rabbit hides.”
Place the two baskets upside down in a row in front of the toddler. Remind the toddler to use his/her eyes to watch where the rabbit hops. Hop the rabbit around the floor and, as the toddler is watching, place the rabbit under a basket. Invite the toddler to remember where the rabbit is hiding. Example: “Our rabbit hopped around, and now he is hiding from us! Do you remember which basket the rabbit is hiding under? Which basket should we look under?”
Describe the toddler’s actions. Example: “You are looking under the basket that is close to you. There is no rabbit.”
If the toddler easily finds the toy rabbit under the correct basket, describe how the toddler focused and remembered. Example: “You watched the rabbit hop around and then hide from us. You remembered where the rabbit was hiding!”
If the toddler appears to be guessing or is unsure which basket to look under, positively recognize the toddler’s effort and try another round. Remind the toddler to watch the rabbit carefully. This time, use slower actions to facilitate the toddler’s watching. Provide hints to support the toddler in finding the hidden rabbit (see Extra Support tips).
If the toddler appears ready for more challenge, place three baskets in front of the toddler. Invite the toddler to watch the rabbit again. Example: “We are going to use our eyes to watch the rabbit. Let’s see where the rabbit hides this time!” Ask the toddler to find the rabbit and describe the toddler’s actions. Emphasize the importance of watching and remembering. Congratulate the toddler for effort or for success. Example: “Jose, you watched where the rabbit went. You tried to remember which basket he was hiding under. We found him together!”
Executive function
A toddler independently practices watching and remembering where a hopping toy rabbit is hiding.
Be Prepared: Select three baskets that are not identical. Select a toy rabbit that will fully fit under each of the three baskets.
Invite one toddler to join you to play a memory game. Introduce the rabbit and explain that the rabbit likes to hop around and then hide under a basket. Introduce the memory game of finding the hidden rabbit. You may wish to begin the game with two baskets rather than three. Example: “You are going to watch where the rabbit goes, and then remember which basket the rabbit hides under.” While the toddler is watching, hop the rabbit around the floor and then place the rabbit under a basket. Invite the toddler to remember where the rabbit is hiding. Example: “Our rabbit hopped around and now he is hiding from us! Which basket are you going to look under?”
If the toddler easily finds the toy rabbit under the correct basket, describe the toddler’s process. Example: “You watched the rabbit hop around and then hide. You remembered which basket the rabbit was hiding under!” If the toddler seems uncertain about which basket to look under, use caregiver support strategies included in Option 2.
If the toddler appears ready for more challenge, invite him/her to watch and find again, this time with three baskets. Example: “Now our rabbit has more places to hide. There are three baskets in front of you. Where do you think the rabbit will hide this time?” Repeat the hopping and hiding actions with the toy rabbit and invite the toddler to find where the rabbit is hiding. Congratulate the toddler for effort or for success. Example: “You watched where the rabbit went. You remembered which basket the rabbit was hiding under!”
Watching each toddlers responses to the Option 1 version of the activity will provide useful information on whether a toddler is ready for Option 2 or 3, or perhaps needs more practice with Option 1 in a smaller group or one-to-one setting. Toddlers who remain visually focused on the toy rabbit’s hopping and whereabouts in Option 1 are likely to benefit from Option 2 or Option 3. If a toddler finds it difficult to focus and remember in the independent context of Option 3, you can easily use some of the support strategies included in Option 2. It is important for each toddler to experience success with any of the options.
Encouraging toddlers to carefully watch the rabbit while also keeping a lighthearted approach is important. See Extra Support tips if the watching element of the activity seems to be challenging. See the Enrichment tip if a toddler seems ready for a reversal of roles.
Avoid allowing this activity to become a guessing game. Guessing does not promote short-term memory skills. If a toddler does not select the correct basket in the early rounds of the game, do not prolong the search by suggesting the toddler “make another guess.” Instead, lift the correct basket to reveal the toy rabbit and try another round.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: sensory table, several toy rabbits, several baskets, shredded paper for pretend “grass,” Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Invite several toddlers to play at the sensory table with the above materials. Encourage them to hide the rabbits under the grass or baskets for you to find. Talk with toddlers about their ideas and actions as they hide and play with the rabbits.
Materials Needed: sensory table, several toy rabbits, several baskets or plastic flower pot, shredded paper for pretend “grass,” Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Invite the children to take turns finding the toy rabbit under the baskets in the sensory table. For toddlers, hop the rabbit around and place under a flower pot while they are watching. For older children, hop the rabbit around, place under a flower pot, and then move the flower pot in one direction while they are watching. If children are enjoying the activity, invite them to take turns hiding the rabbits under the baskets for other children to find. Older infants may enjoy holding a toy rabbit during the game.
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