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Look for Animals up and Down

Hide small animal toys in easy-to-reach places and use position words such as “above,” “below,” “in front,” and “behind” as clues.

  • 2 years
  • Quick prep
  • At home
  • About 15 minutes
Focus
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Developmental benefits

  • Language：Connecting position words with where a toy is found helps your child understand terms such as above, below, in front, and behind.
  • Movement：Searching in different places invites your child to crawl, squat, stand, reach, and turn.

Preparation

What You’ll Need

  1. 1

    Small animal figures: a pig, fish, and teddy bear

Step 1

Find the Missing Toys

Hide several animal toys in different places at home and invite your child to find them. When one appears, name its position: “The pig is on the table!”

What to notice

  • Searches carefully for the toy Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
  • Looks for the toy with you after hearing that it is lost Relationships with Adults

Tips

  • Begin with visible, reachable hiding places so your child can experience finding a toy quickly.
  • Celebrate a find with an excited voice to keep the search playful.
  • Keep the toys within one small area so the location clues remain easy to follow.

Step 2

Try Another Direction

If your child overlooks a toy, give a location clue. If the words are unfamiliar, model one example: point under the table while saying, “I found one under the table.” The gesture helps show what “under” means.

What to notice

  • Looks under the table after seeing you point there Vocabulary
  • Bends over or lies on the floor to reach a toy under the table Perception

Tips

  • If your child looks in a different place, describe that position too: “You looked on the table. It isn’t there.”
  • Keep each clue focused on the location word rather than adding color or animal details.

Step 3

Hide Them in New Places

Move the toys to new places, such as under a bed or chair. Reuse “above” and “below,” then add another position word once those are familiar.

What to notice

  • Responds correctly to “high” after hearing the word repeated several times Vocabulary
  • Crawls across the sofa while searching Gross Motor

Tips

  • Add other contrasts by hiding a toy beside the blocks, in front of a cup, or behind a book.
  • Emphasize the key position word in your voice: “It’s up high.”

Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026