What is object permanence
Object permanence is a critical part of Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. Object permanence is the understanding that an object still exists even if it cannot be immediately experienced (seen, heard, felt, etc). Without understanding object permanence, babies believe that objects out of sight do not exist.
When babies begin to understand object permanence
Studies have found that babies as young as 4 months begin to understand object permanence- they just can’t communicate it. From birth to two years old, object permanence plays a significant role in child development.
Object permanence and working memory
Object permanence is a crucial precursor to symbolic reasoning- the act of mentally visualizing things that have left your baby’s immediate sight. At this stage, your baby knows a toy that leaves their sight still exists by forming a mental image of it. With this new ability, babies leave a world which only consists of their senses into a more permanent environment.
Symbolic reasoning is an important development in working memory; babies can now form mental representations of different objects. Hence, your child can start building on previous experiences to explore, interact, and build their understanding of abstract concepts.
Help your baby understand object permanence
Every baby naturally develops an understanding of object permanence. But you can help reinforce your baby’s understanding by:
- Play “peek-a-boo” to help; this classic game helps entertain and educate your child. Aside from using your face, try hiding some of your child’s toys and ask them to look for it. Then reveal where it was.
- Play games like “hide and seek”; for slightly older children, try taking a few of their toys and placing them under other items or in easy to find areas. This encourages them to work on their motor and cognition while searching; later, praise them when they find the toys.
Keep in mind
Object permanence also marks the beginning of more cries for attention. Now that your baby knows that you still exist when you leave, they will cry for you more often. For infants just starting a playgroup, this might also mark the start of separation anxiety.
Sources
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-object-permanence-2795405#fostering-object-permanence
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