Object Permanence

One of the key developments in cognition is that of Object Permanence, or understanding that objects continue to exist even when they can't be seen. Object Permanence is the ability of a child to understand that objects exist even if they cannot directly be sensed. Until this is achieved, then for children 'out of sight is out of mind'. So, Object Permanence develops at around 8 or 9 months. For instance, if you show them a small car and then hide it under your hands what will happen? Before eight months, they will act as if it no longer existed, even when they saw you hide it. By 9 months they will lean forward to look intently at your hands, then your face and then your hands again. They may try to uncover your hands as they know the car is there.

Exposure to situations involving the need for Object Permanence such as 'peek-a-boo' or 'hide-and-seek' fosters development by encouraging the child to experience different events and then learning how to coordinate his or her physical activity in response.