Regression games

Reassuring your child by revisiting early caregiving experiences

We're in the kitchen and my youngest is four years old.

She's bright and funny and, perhaps, the most articulate of my four children. But on this occasion, she has other things in mind.

Geh-Geh! she says, eyes wide.

Hello Geh-Geh! Are you hungry? Would you like some milk? Or a cuddle and a nursery rhyme?

Geh-Geh! she nods. She raises her arms and looks at us expectantly. You have understood, her expression says.

Pick me up.

It's a game she likes to play and the rules are simple: I say 'Geh-Geh' and you pretend that I'm a baby again.

So, we rock her and sing nursery rhymes. We put food on a spoon. Even her too-cool and cynical brothers sometimes join in the fun. These moments of regression aren’t just adorable - they’re important. They show that, even as she grows in independence, she still seeks reassurance and nurturing. It’s our job to meet her where she is emotionally.

This kind of play is one example of how attachment bonds are formed and strengthened. It’s through these small, tender moments that we build the trust our children need to confidently explore the world. And the games we play - whether it’s peekaboo or hide-and-seek - are far more significant than they might seem.