It's called "Guess what's missing?"
For two year olds, keep it simple. Two to three easily identifiable and distinct items.
For example, a duck and a frog.
Let your child identify the objects with you, and tell them that you're going to sing a song and hide one.
It's their job to remember which one is missing.
Cover the items with a small towel/blanket.
Here's the song that goes along with the activity. (Sung to tune of freres jaque)
"Guess what's missing,
Guess what's missing.
I don't know,
I don't know.
But (child's name here) is going to tell me,
(Child's name) is gonna tell me,
Which one I took,
Which one I took."
Ask the child which one they think you took. If they struggle, you can remind them what was there before. Then ask again. If they are still stumped, show them the shape of the missing item under your towel.
My son is two and a half and loves to play this game. He does best with two items, but I've been challenging him with three items at a time.
The trick is to find things your child is interested in. My son loves vehicles, and can name the different types. I choose very distinct vehicles when we play with them to make it easier to remember for him.
For an older child, you can use more items, including dinosaurs, colored Legos, shapes, letters, etc. You can add to the difficulty level by taking two items away--or instead of asking what is missing, ask which ones are still there. This helps with listening, language and memory skills.
This activity can be played anywhere, anytime.
Even with items from your purse while waiting to get your oil changed or sitting in a Doctor's office.
Or how about when you're waiting for food at a restaurant?
There's no limit to the variations of this game which makes winner in my book.
