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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.


Feb 19, 2020

Spin Go Round!

Spin Go Round! - Match shapes, colors, characters and patterns

Spin Go Round! keeps things moving with four spinners and multiple attributes to match, all while playing a group game of bingo. 

I never thought of all players playing bingo on a single card, but it works. The single colorful bingo card is a 5 x 5 grid and measures 10" square. It is covered in clear, molded plastic, and around each square are slightly built up walls. This allows for up to four tiles (your bingo markers) to be played in each square. Therefore, if your opponent claims a square, but you need it for a win or want to block them, you may get a chance of covering their tile with your tile. Each picture on the card will feature four different attributes: 1) background color, 2) background pattern, 3) a shape and 4) a character inside the shape. 

Each spinner is shaped like a leaf and will feature just one attribute. The arrow moves freely and has a built-up part on back. There are eight spaces on each spinner: Five in the attribute, two that say wild and one that says Spin Go Round. At the beginning of each turn you will flick the arrow on your spinner to tell you what you will cover on the bingo card on that turn. Your choices will be:
  • Attribute - Cover one space on the bingo card that features the attribute on your spinner (shape, color, etc.)
  • Wild - Cover any space on the bingo card
  • Spin Go Round - Exchange spinners, each person passing their spinner to the left.
There are 16 tiles of each color and each player will get all of one color. The tiles have a little dip in the top so that you can easily pick them up our of their spaces.


Object:
Be the first to get four tiles in a row, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Even though it is a 5 x 5 grid, the directions only require a 4 square bingo.

Set up:
Place the card between the players. Place one spinner on each side of the board (north, south, east, west), even if less than four people are playing. Assign each person a color and give them all the tiles of that color.

Play:
Player take turns. The first player spins his spinner and places a tile on the board. There are usually multiple options, based on the what your spinner shows. When someone spins a Spin Go Round space, all players pass their spinner to the left. If less than four people are playing, those spinners sitting on those empty sides of the bingo cards also get rotated. That way everyone gets turns on all attributes. Play until someone gets four in a row and wins the game.

Try this:
  • Practice flicking the arrow with different fingers. Look for a nice O when placing fingertip to thumb.
  • Use fewer spinners. The lighting was not good at one home where we played this and so I took out the pattern spinner because it was hard to see without picking up and tipping the card for a closer look. We played with three attributes that day.
  • Stop occasionally and ask the player to look for places where they already have three and just need one for the win.
  • Start slow, watching for a bingo in only one direction. Then move to two, then to three as they can successfully watch all directions.

In the box: Game board, 4 spinners, 64 tiles (16 each of purple, green, pink and blue)

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.


 

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