What is object permanence? It is the understanding that an object exists even when it cannot be physically perceived. The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" truly applies to early infancy. When an infant of five or six months is interested in an object, it is possible to move the object out of the child's sight and, as far as the child is concerned, it has ceased to exist. This concept is the beginning of the actual thought process in infants! Person permanence is the concept that if you cover the person, as in the game Peek-a-Boo, they do not exist until uncovered. Person permanence is important to attachment and the health and wellbeing of infants both socially and emotionally. So the next time you see us playing Peek-a-Boo, remember, it is not just a silly game...but the beginning of an infant’s ability to perform higher thought processes! Cool, huh?
- Miss Elisabeth
- Miss Elisabeth