Where Are My Friends?

1. 1

   At a playdate in the park, invite another caregiver and child—for example, Maya—to play hide-and-seek with you.

2. 2

   Ask Maya and their caregiver to hide behind a tree or cover their faces with their hands. They can stay partly visible.

3. 3

   Hold your child’s hand and sing while you search: “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven—Maya, Maya, where are you?”

4. 4

   Add a looking gesture, such as pretending to scan the distance, or call Maya’s name together so your child can join in.

5. 5

   The hiding pair can peek out, wave, and answer, “Here we are! Maya, Maya, here we are!”

6. 6

   After the search, clap together or share a snack. Repeating a playmate’s name in a warm interaction helps your child become familiar with them.

What to notice

• Turns to look for Maya when they hear Maya’s name Relationships with Other Children
• Begins looking for a friend when the song asks, “Where is your friend?” Emergent Literacy

Tips

• Switch who hides so each child gets a turn being found and called by name. If your child feels shy, let them search beside you at first. They may relax after a few rounds.

Developmental benefits

• Social/Emotional: Hearing a playmate’s name during a playful search helps your child notice, recognize, and remember a familiar peer.