Guess the Objects covered in Tin Foil

 Children love simple guessing games and so here is a quick and easy one for you to play with your toddler. All they are required to do is guess the object covered in tin foil.

Object Permanence

It’s quite incredible what children learn from objects that are out of their direct view. You may have heard me talk previously about something called ‘object permanence‘, and hopefully you’ve also seen the activity I call ‘The Disappearing Act‘. Such activities, which play on objects being out of direct view, teach children that although the object may be out of sight or covered, it still exists. This thinking will often develop after about 6 months. Prior to this age, children can believe that if it’s out of sight or covered, it no longer exists. That’s why peek-a-boo games are so fun for very young babies.

Tin Foil

I’m quite a fan of using tin foil. You’ve seen me use it with Possum (aged 2.2) to make process art and Kate from Picklebums has also put together a fabulous round up of 20 tin foil activities. It’s also something that is often available in the home and easily used to whip up this fun game for toddlers.

You will need

• Tin foil
• Objects (familiar to child and unique in shape)

Guess the Objects covered in tin foil game

Preparing this game was easy! I simply collected a few interesting and familiar objects from around the home and wrapped them in a sheet of tin foil. I was very careful to mould the tin foil and really emphasise the shape of each object (see above). This approach would also provide the very important clues that Possum would need to solve the mystery of what was inside the tin foil.

 Your child understanding 3D shapes

This activity, although very simple, provides toddlers with a lesson in recognising 3D shapes and objects. This is based on their prior knowledge of an object (a ball is round). They don’t have to physically see the ball with it’s colours and markings, but use what they already know and have an understanding that it’s shape is round and therefore it’s most likely a ball.

Once I’d presented Possum with the objects I asked her the question-
” Which object do you think is the pear?”

Possum used what she knew about pears, including it’s shape, to recognise which covered object was the pear. Wonderful! 🙂

 Checking and confirming a guess

I think it’s very important children are given the opportunity to check their answers and learn from them. This can be done by allowing your child to tear off the tin foil and reveal the object. Regardless of the outcome, always praise your child. 🙂

This idea was inspired by Ness from One Perfect Day who did a similar type of activity. Instead she created a gorgeous invitation to play with blocks and tin foil. You can see it her post ‘Building Blocks and Foil’  here.

I loved giving Possum her teapot covered in tin foil. It’s such a wonderful shape, with it’s spout and handle.  Of course it can be just as much fun to rewrap the objects in the tin foil. 

Her gumboot was another great choice for her to guess and uncover. 

Overall this game of guessing the objects covered in tin foil was a wonderful learning experience for Possum. It tested her understanding of object permanence but also tested her understanding of familiar objects and their shapes. I encourage you all to have a go with your toddler today under active supervision.

What other objects would be good covered in tin foil?

Check out these other ideas