Today I watched the kids in my class play “hide and seek”. What started with two kids playing, within a few moments turned into ten.
It was the most beautiful unorganized game of “hide and seek” I have ever seen. Two or three kids were counting at the same time and others were running and hiding. They kept hiding in the same spot over again, with the same excitement each time they found each other.
Not one kid in the class was left out. On this particular day, everyone joined in. There were loud voices yelling “gotcha ya”, and “you’re it”. Laughter could be heard from every corner of the yard.
It was the pure joy of childhood from a simple game we all grew up with.
In addition to great exercise, many cognitive lessons are being learned when kids play “hide and seek”
These include developing memory skills by having to remember the rules of the game. also, remembering, Who’s it, counting, to tell everyone they are coming, and to find them.
Next, improving problem-solving by finding ways to find everyone, or finding ways to hide and not be seen.
Learning different perspectives is another skill they will develop, seeing the different ways another child may hide or search.
With games like “hide and seek,” they gain a reinforcement on object performance. Things go away and they come back, which is helpful when working on separation anxiety.
A key lesson they learn is gaining emotional control when they are found. Of course, sportsmanship.
While I watch my class run in circles and continue to hide and find each other, I can’t stop smiling.
Childhood is magical. When we find a moment like this we never interrupt it. We just sit and wish it will never end.
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16 Responses
Interesting post! It’s amazing how much kids are learning from simple games like hide-and-seek. I hadn’t thought about how that can reinforce their understanding of object permanence and help them cope with separation anxiety.
Kids learn so much through play. It is an amazing foundation for success in school! I love watching them develop even the smallest skill.
Hands on Excellent
This is an excellent way for children to learn how to think and become aware of what they need to do to survive in life…Just sitting in a classroom and being told what to do and how to do it is not as productive as the method that your wonderful educator Miss Suzanne has the knowledge and ability to use…
What better way to learn than through the freedom of play!
I love playing hide and seek with my kids. We did a lot of this at home during the pandemic. My kids aren’t great at it yet because they are small but they love it!
I love it! Keep playing they are learning so much and I bet you are having so much fun!
I think my favorite was playing house or teacher with my brothers and cousins. We would pretend to cook and take care of children or teach them. Hide and seek was another childhood favorite, though.
What a great memory, childhood games will always have a way of making us smile when we think of them 🙂
Such a great reminder that we can learn a lot about life from our kids
kids give lessons every day of the joy life gives us!
I love this! thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your comment
Wow – I never thought of the cognitive skills used while playing hide and seek! Thanks for pointing them out. These type of games are the best 🙂
It is amazing all the skills kids use during play. So many of these games prepare them for reading and writing. But, I truly l love watching childhood in action 🙂
Miss Suzanne – I have a song called “Hide and Seek” on my second CD for kids called “Shoebox Town.” I have the feeling you will love it and play it to death. “Hide and seek is lots of fun, catch me if you can!” It was wonderful meeting you on Wednesday at Clark’s very moving memorial. I hope to get to know you. – Tracy Newman
Clark would be so happy that once again music has brought us together. I can’t wait to play your songs to my class and other projects we maybe can do together!