Object Permanence Box

💡 About this activity

🎯 Learning objectives

• Follow the ball with their eyes as it disappears.
• Look or point toward the ball after it falls into the box.
• Try to drop the ball through the hole, with help if needed.

🧺 What you need

• A sturdy shoebox with a lid
• A large, intact ball with no loose parts, too big to fit in your child's mouth
• A pencil to mark the hole
• Scissors for adult use only

👣 How to do it

1. Before playing, mark a circle on the lid that is a little bigger than the ball.
2. An adult cuts out the circle and checks that the edges are smooth and firm.
3. Put the lid on the box and sit with your child on the floor.
4. Show your child the ball and drop it through the hole, saying, “The ball is gone!”
5. Ask where it is, pause for your child to respond, and open the lid to show them the ball.
6. Close the box and invite your child to drop the ball through the hole, helping if needed.
7. Repeat while your child is interested, then put the materials away.

🍎 Teaching suggestions

• Say, “It fell! Where is it? There it is!” Give your child time to look, point, or respond.
• If dropping the ball is tricky, support your child's hand or show them again.
• Accept gestures and sounds as responses. Your child doesn't need to speak to join in.
• Another time, try hiding and finding a large toy under a cloth.

🔀 Variations

💬 Talk about it

• Where did the ball go?
• What happened when it fell?
• Where could we look?
• How can we make the ball appear again?

👀 What to look for

• Notice whether your child follows the ball with their eyes.
• Watch for your child looking, pointing, or moving toward the box after the ball disappears.
• Notice whether your child tries to drop the ball through the hole, with or without help.