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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.


Jan 20, 2017

Monster Munch

Monster Munch - 5 figure ground games in one book
 
In the book: 100 removable picture tiles.

Monster Munch is a large board book with five figure ground games. There are 100 small tiles that measure 1.25" x 1.25" and each has a simple picture on it. You can see them above in the monster's mouth. The monster's mouth has a piece of clear plastic over it so you can see the contents inside. This is where the cards are stored. Open the book and you will see the monster again on the left hand side and there is a hole for the monster's mouth on the inside also. As you play you will drop the cards into the monsters mouth and they will end up back in the storage area. To play, take all the 100 picture tiles out of the book. Spread them out on the table. Each page is a new game, and each game will ask you to search and find a certain number of specific pictures. As you search and find the pictures, feed them to the monster by putting them into his mouth from the inside of the book. This will amount to putting the pieces back in the book for storage. Here ae the five games:
  • Munch! Munch! Munch! Feed me 5 things for lunch. (1 roller blade, 1 TV, 1 phone, 1 teddy bear, 1 umbrella). Living room.
  • Munch! Munch! Munch! Feed me 10 things for lunch (from the bathroom). (2 bars of soap, 2 toothbrushes, 2 ducks, 2 rolls of toilet paper, 2 sailboats) Bathroom.
  • Munch! Munch! Munch! Feed me 15 things for lunch (from the kitchen). (3 forks, 3 cups, 3 teapots, 3 pans, 3 toasters) Kitchen.
  • Munch! Munch! Munch! Feed me 20 things for lunch. Laundry room.
  • Munch! Munch! Munch! Feed me 50 things for lunch. Garage.
Garage                                                                              Kitchen

This equals 100 picture tiles, the exact number in the book. If you play all five games, the picture tiles will all be back into the book. You will have to keep this book rubber banded shut or on a shelf since the pictures will easily fall out if the book is jostled around and it comes open.

Try this:
  • Take two of each card and play a simple matching game.
  • Take one of each picture and place them randomly on the table. Ask the individual to pick them up by the room they would find them in. Say something like "Pick up all the items you would find in a bathroom".
  • Set up 25+ pictures in a grid on the table and then name the categories as the individual removes all tiles that fit each category. For example something red, something made of paper, something that floats, something made of metal, something that you wear, etc.
  • Ask the individual to pick up the cards by stacking one on top of each other. How many can be held? 
  • Work on figure ground, visual discrimination, visual form constancy, visual scanning, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, executive functions, social interaction skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation. 
If you are interested in purchasing this item or just want more information, click on the image below.

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