diff --git a/adam/curriculum/phase1_curriculum.py b/adam/curriculum/phase1_curriculum.py
index 63b89730..ea46cfa8 100644
--- a/adam/curriculum/phase1_curriculum.py
+++ b/adam/curriculum/phase1_curriculum.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from adam.language.dependency import LinearizedDependencyTree
 from adam.language_specific.english.english_language_generator import (
     GAILA_PHASE_1_LANGUAGE_GENERATOR,
 )
-from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY
+from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY, LEARNER
 from adam.perception.developmental_primitive_perception import (
     DevelopmentalPrimitivePerceptionFrame,
 )
@@ -50,8 +50,10 @@ def _phase1_instances(
 
 # Show each object once by itself
 
+_LEARNER_OBJECT = object_variable("learner", LEARNER)
+
 SINGLE_OBJECT_TEMPLATE = Phase1SituationTemplate(
-    object_variables=[object_variable("object")]
+    object_variables=[object_variable("object"), _LEARNER_OBJECT]
 )
 
 EACH_OBJECT_BY_ITSELF_SUB_CURRICULUM = _phase1_instances(
@@ -65,7 +67,9 @@ EACH_OBJECT_BY_ITSELF_SUB_CURRICULUM = _phase1_instances(
 
 _COLOR = color_variable("color")
 _COLOR_OBJECT = object_variable("object", added_properties=[_COLOR])
-_OBJECT_WITH_COLOR_TEMPLATE = Phase1SituationTemplate(object_variables=[_COLOR_OBJECT])
+_OBJECT_WITH_COLOR_TEMPLATE = Phase1SituationTemplate(
+    object_variables=[_COLOR_OBJECT, _LEARNER_OBJECT]
+)
 
 OBJECTS_WITH_COLORS_SUB_CURRICULUM = _phase1_instances(
     "objects with colors",
diff --git a/adam/language_specific/english/english_language_generator.py b/adam/language_specific/english/english_language_generator.py
index 8c4ae4fe..16f4d4a5 100644
--- a/adam/language_specific/english/english_language_generator.py
+++ b/adam/language_specific/english/english_language_generator.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ from adam.language_specific.english.english_syntax import (
 )
 from adam.language_specific.english.english_phase_1_lexicon import MASS_NOUN
 from adam.ontology import OntologyNode
-from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import AGENT, PATIENT, THEME, DESTINATION, ON
+from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import AGENT, PATIENT, THEME, DESTINATION, ON, LEARNER
 from adam.random_utils import SequenceChooser
 from adam.situation import (
     SituationObject,
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ class SimpleRuleBasedEnglishLanguageGenerator(
 
         def generate(self) -> ImmutableSet[LinearizedDependencyTree]:
             for _object in self.situation.objects:
-                self._translate_object_to_noun(_object)
+                # We put the learner in the situation to express certain perceivable relations
+                # relative to them, but we don't talk about the learner itself.
+                if not _object.ontology_node == LEARNER:
+                    self._translate_object_to_noun(_object)
 
             if len(self.situation.actions) > 1:
                 raise RuntimeError(
diff --git a/adam/ontology/phase1_ontology.py b/adam/ontology/phase1_ontology.py
index 7549b4cb..c22e2504 100644
--- a/adam/ontology/phase1_ontology.py
+++ b/adam/ontology/phase1_ontology.py
@@ -73,14 +73,15 @@ subtype(SENTIENT, PERCEIVABLE_PROPERTY)
 LIQUID = OntologyNode("liquid", [BINARY])
 subtype(LIQUID, PERCEIVABLE_PROPERTY)
 
-RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR = OntologyNode("recognized-particular", [BINARY])
+RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR_PROPERTY = OntologyNode("recognized-particular", [BINARY, ABSTRACT])
 """
-Indicates that a node in the ontology corresponds to a particular (rather than a class)
+Indicates that a property in the ontology indicates the identity of an object
+as a known particular object (rather than a class)
 which is assumed to be known to the `LanguageLearner`. 
 The prototypical cases here are *Mom* and *Dad*.
 """
 
-subtype(RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR, PERCEIVABLE_PROPERTY)
+subtype(RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR_PROPERTY, PERCEIVABLE_PROPERTY)
 
 IS_SPEAKER = OntologyNode("is-speaker", [BINARY])
 """
@@ -181,13 +182,29 @@ PERSON = OntologyNode(
     "person", inheritable_properties=[ANIMATE], non_inheritable_properties=[ABSTRACT]
 )
 subtype(PERSON, THING)
-MOM = OntologyNode("mom", [RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR])
+IS_MOM = OntologyNode("is-mom")
+subtype(IS_MOM, RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR_PROPERTY)
+MOM = OntologyNode("mom", [IS_MOM])
 subtype(MOM, PERSON)
-DAD = OntologyNode("dad", [RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR])
+
+IS_DAD = OntologyNode("is-dad")
+subtype(IS_DAD, RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR_PROPERTY)
+DAD = OntologyNode("dad", [IS_DAD])
 subtype(DAD, PERSON)
+
 BABY = OntologyNode("baby")
 subtype(BABY, PERSON)
 
+IS_LEARNER = OntologyNode("is-learner")
+subtype(IS_LEARNER, RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR_PROPERTY)
+LEARNER = OntologyNode("learner", [IS_LEARNER])
+"""
+We represent the language learner itself in the situation,
+because the size or position of objects relative to the learner itself
+may be significant for learning.
+"""
+subtype(LEARNER, BABY)
+
 NONHUMAN_ANIMAL = OntologyNode(
     "animal", inheritable_properties=[ANIMATE], non_inheritable_properties=[ABSTRACT]
 )
diff --git a/adam/perception/developmental_primitive_perception.py b/adam/perception/developmental_primitive_perception.py
index 976dd177..8f9e70cb 100644
--- a/adam/perception/developmental_primitive_perception.py
+++ b/adam/perception/developmental_primitive_perception.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 from abc import ABC
-
 from attr import attrib, attrs
 from attr.validators import in_, instance_of
 from immutablecollections import ImmutableSet, immutableset
@@ -7,8 +6,6 @@ from immutablecollections.converter_utils import _to_immutableset
 from vistautils.range import Range
 
 from adam.ontology import OntologyNode
-from adam.ontology.ontology import Ontology
-from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR
 from adam.perception import PerceptualRepresentationFrame
 
 
@@ -140,30 +137,3 @@ class HasColor(PropertyPerception):
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f"hasColor({self.perceived_object}, {self.color})"
-
-
-@attrs(slots=True, frozen=True, repr=False)
-class IsRecognizedParticular(PropertyPerception):
-    """
-    A learner's perception that the *perceived_object* is some particular instance that it knows,
-    given by an `OntologyNode` which must have the `RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR` property.
-
-    The canonical examples here are "Mom" and "Dad".
-
-    An `Ontology` must be provided to verify that the node is a `RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR`.
-    """
-
-    particular_ontology_node: OntologyNode = attrib(validator=instance_of(OntologyNode))
-    ontology: Ontology = attrib(validator=instance_of(Ontology), kw_only=True)
-
-    def __attrs_post_init__(self) -> None:
-        if not self.ontology.has_all_properties(
-            self.particular_ontology_node, [RECOGNIZED_PARTICULAR]
-        ):
-            raise RuntimeError(
-                "The learner can only perceive the ontology node of an object "
-                "if it is a recognized particular (e.g. Mom, Dad)"
-            )
-
-    def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        return f"recognizedAs({self.perceived_object}, {self.particular_ontology_node})"
diff --git a/adam/situation/templates/phase1_templates.py b/adam/situation/templates/phase1_templates.py
index 8637f2db..a084a5e0 100644
--- a/adam/situation/templates/phase1_templates.py
+++ b/adam/situation/templates/phase1_templates.py
@@ -17,7 +17,12 @@ from vistautils.preconditions import check_arg
 
 from adam.ontology import ABSTRACT, OntologyNode, PROPERTY, THING
 from adam.ontology.ontology import Ontology
-from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import COLOR, GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY
+from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import (
+    COLOR,
+    GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY,
+    IS_LEARNER,
+    LEARNER,
+)
 from adam.ontology.selectors import ByHierarchyAndProperties, Is, OntologyNodeSelector
 from adam.random_utils import RandomChooser, SequenceChooser
 from adam.situation import SituationObject
@@ -216,12 +221,17 @@ def object_variable(
     Use *added_properties* for things like
     "whatever fills this variable, make it red."
     """
+    banned_properties = [ABSTRACT]
+    if root_node is not LEARNER:
+        # we never use the learner to fill an object variable in a situation
+        # unless explicitly request. Our learner is an observer, not a participant.
+        banned_properties.append(IS_LEARNER)
     return TemplateObjectVariable(
         debug_handle,
         ByHierarchyAndProperties(
             descendents_of=root_node,
             required_properties=required_properties,
-            banned_properties=immutableset([ABSTRACT]),
+            banned_properties=banned_properties,
         ),
         asserted_properties=[
             property_

diff --git a/tests/perception/developmental_primitive_perception_test.py b/tests/perception/developmental_primitive_perception_test.py
index 8c75ee3e..2089b086 100644
--- a/tests/perception/developmental_primitive_perception_test.py
+++ b/tests/perception/developmental_primitive_perception_test.py
@@ -1,22 +1,20 @@
 from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import (
-    GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY,
-    MOM,
-    DAD,
-    SENTIENT,
-    SUPPORTS,
-    CONTACTS,
     ABOVE,
     BELOW,
+    CONTACTS,
+    IS_DAD,
+    IS_MOM,
+    SENTIENT,
+    SUPPORTS,
 )
 from adam.perception import PerceptualRepresentation
 from adam.perception.developmental_primitive_perception import (
     DevelopmentalPrimitivePerceptionFrame,
-    ObjectPerception,
     HasBinaryProperty,
-    RgbColorPerception,
     HasColor,
+    ObjectPerception,
     RelationPerception,
-    IsRecognizedParticular,
+    RgbColorPerception,
 )
 from adam.perception.perception_frame_difference import diff_primitive_perception_frames
 
@@ -32,8 +30,8 @@ def test_recognized_particular():
             property_assertions=[
                 HasBinaryProperty(mom, SENTIENT),
                 HasBinaryProperty(dad, SENTIENT),
-                IsRecognizedParticular(mom, MOM, ontology=GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY),
-                IsRecognizedParticular(dad, DAD, ontology=GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY),
+                HasBinaryProperty(mom, IS_MOM),
+                HasBinaryProperty(dad, IS_DAD),
             ],
         )
     )
diff --git a/tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py b/tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py
index 0da1e498..41628081 100644
--- a/tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py
+++ b/tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ from adam.ontology.phase1_ontology import (
     BALL,
     GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY,
     IS_SPEAKER,
+    JUICE,
+    LEARNER,
+    LIQUID,
     PERSON,
     RED,
-    LIQUID,
-    JUICE,
+    IS_LEARNER,
 )
 from adam.perception.developmental_primitive_perception import (
     DevelopmentalPrimitivePerceptionFrame,
@@ -150,9 +152,16 @@ def test_liquid_perceivable():
             ontology=GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY, objects=[SituationObject(JUICE)]
         ),
         chooser=RandomChooser.for_seed(0),
-    )
-    assert any(
-        isinstance(prop_assertion, HasBinaryProperty)
-        and prop_assertion.binary_property == LIQUID
-        for prop_assertion in juice_perception.frames[0].property_assertions
-    )
+    ).frames[0]
+    assert _some_object_has_binary_property(juice_perception, LIQUID)
+
+
+def test_learner_perceivable():
+    learner_perception = _PERCEPTION_GENERATOR.generate_perception(
+        HighLevelSemanticsSituation(
+            ontology=GAILA_PHASE_1_ONTOLOGY, objects=[SituationObject(LEARNER)]
+        ),
+        chooser=RandomChooser.for_seed(0),
+    ).frames[0]
+
+    assert _some_object_has_binary_property(learner_perception, IS_LEARNER)

Represent the kid/learner as a background object in the perceptual generation
tests/perception/developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_recognized_particular tests/perception/developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_color tests/perception/developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_relations tests/perception/developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_difference tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_person_and_ball tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_person_and_ball_color tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_speaker_perceivable tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_not_two_speakers tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_liquid_perceivable tests/perception/high_level_semantics_situation_to_developmental_primitive_perception_test.py::test_learner_perceivable