-->

Children learn through play. As an occupational therapist who works with children and youth, I use games and toys almost every day to help develop important cognitive, visual perceptual, motor, sensory, social, play and leisure skills. While many different types of activities can be used in therapy, this blog focuses on off-the-shelf games and toys that are accessible to most. Whether you are a therapist, parent, teacher, or a game lover like me, I hope you discover something useful while you are here. Learn a different way to play a game you already own or discover a new game for your next family game night. Either way, just go play. It's good for you!

The OT Magazine named The Playful Otter one of the Top 5 Pediatric OT Blogs.


Jul 27, 2016

Go Getter 2 - Land & Water

Go Getter 2 - Land & Water

Go Getter 2 - Land & Water is a one person puzzle that challenges you to create paths to connect various people, places, and/or things.

The nine pieces in the middle (above) are removable. The blue border you see around the nine pieces is a plastic box. Therefore, the icons you see on there, car, boat, lighthouse, etc., will always be in those locations. The yellow paths represent roadways and the blue paths represent waterways.

The challenge book has 12 puzzles that increase in difficulty as you go, and each puzzle will tell you what pathways to connect. Below is challenge number 5. The red boat should be connected to the red fish through a blue water pathway, and the yellow car should be connected to the yellow boat through a yellow road pathway. Next to the challenge is the answer, which is on the back of each challenge page. 

Challenge #5.                                                      Solution #5.

There is one answer provided for each challenge, but the makers state that there are up to four possible answers for each puzzle. The instructions say to concern yourself only with the pathways that the challenge book requires you to make, and you can place the remaining tiles wherever you want to fill in the board and finish the puzzle.

This version is Go Getter 2, the intermediate level. There is a Go Getter 1 for beginners and a Go Getter 3 - Prince & Dragon which they call an expert level, but I don't think it would be that difficult for the average player. There is also a Mummy Mystery maze and a cat and mouse version.

If you would like to see more games with mazes, check out my post What's So Amazing About Mazes?

If you are interested in reading more about logic puzzles, check out my post on What's in Your Therapy Box? Logic Puzzle Edition.

Try this:
  • Separate out only the color of tiles needed for the path if the person is having difficulty identifying the correct tiles. For instance, if making a water path from the captain to the lighthouse, only give the individual the blue tiles to choose from.
  • Give the individual only the specific tiles needed to make one particular pathway for an even simpler version.
  • Work a puzzle while the individual watches. Talk through the problem solving process so that it may help him form a strategy for playing. Then take the pieces out and ask the individual to solve the puzzle.
  • Create the puzzle using the solution page. Study it, take it apart and create it again without the solution page.
  • Use consistent positional and directional language as you work with the individual.
  • Work on visual discrimination, spatial relations/position in space, visual closure, figure ground, visual form constancy, executive functioning skills, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, process skills, leisure exploration and participation
  •  
    In the box: 9 square removable tile pieces, a 12 challenge puzzle book, blue plastic board with clear plastic lid

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment.