I did run across a few mentions that the possible origins of the term “peek-a-boo” are derived from the French game of pique-a-beau. This really wasn’t as much of game as it done to indicate displeasure with one’s beau. A young lady would cover her face briefly to display her displeasure.

How Object Permanence Develops

• 1 to 4 Months: Development of New Schemas. Next, primary circular reactions lead to the formation of new schemas.
• 4 to 8 Months: Intentional Actions.
• 8 to 12 Months: Greater Exploration.
• 12 to 18 Months: Trial and Error.
• 18 to 24 Months: Object Permanence Emerges.

Peekaboo (also spelled peek-a-boo) is a form of play played with an infant. To play, one player hides their face, pops back into the view of the other, and says Peekaboo!, sometimes followed by I see you! Object permanence is an important stage of cognitive development for infants.

Peekaboo stimulates baby’s senses, builds gross motor skills, strengthens her visual tracking, encourages her social development and, best of all, tickles her sense of humor. Plus, peekaboo teaches object permanence: the idea that even though she can’t see something (like your smiling face), it still exists.

An early theory of why babies enjoy peekaboo is that they are surprised when things come back after being out of sight. The Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget called this principle and suggested that babies spent the first two years of their lives working it out.

Cognitive Development A big skill your little one will be developing while playing peekaboo is ‘object permanence’, this is the ability to understand that an object or person is still there even though it/they can’t be seen. This skill also links to improving problem solving skills.

According to Kids Health, you’ll first hear your baby utter “mama” between 8 and 12 months (they may say “dada” too, but you know you’re rooting for “mama.”) In general, you can count on anything that comes before that to be mostly nonsense and adorable babble.

Russian linguist Roman Jakobson claims “ the sound of “m” (for “mama”) is easier for babies to make because they tend to do so when their mouths are fastened to a bottle or breast.” But Breyne Moskowitz, PhD, states that nasal sounds such as “m” are actually more difficult and babies are more likely to utter the sound …

Most children speak their first word between 10 to 14 months of age. By the time your baby is a year old, he or she is probably saying between one to three words.

What most babies do by this age:

• Likes to hand things to others as play.
• May have temper tantrums.
• May be afraid of strangers.
• Shows affection to familiar people.
• Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll.
• May cling to caregivers in new situations.
• Points to show others something interesting.

Eight ways to build language & communication skills for late…

1. Sign language. Sign language is one type of alternative communication that has been proven to facilitate speech development.
2. Music. Some people learn to sing before they can talk.
3. Vitamins.
4. Questions vs.
5. Imitation.
6. Slow down.
7. Provide rich sensory experiences.
8. Play to talk.

But unless the toddler has other behavioral signs, being a “late talker” is not a risk factor for ASD. Late talking was historically linked with autism; in fact, language delays used to be a necessary part of diagnosis.