There's something about a solid, brightly painted, wooden toy that just about everybody loves. This oddly-named vehicle falls nicely into that category.
As I pulled the car out of the box to examine, durable is the word that came to mind. Off to a good start, I examined the wheels next. Nothing worse than a vehicle that loses its wheels, and these are on to stay. Next, paint. Is it going to chip and fade, or it it on there to stay too? Three for three, the paint is bright and has been sealed. The wooden pieces are smooth, no chance for splinters. The Kathy Test has been passed. Let's see what we can do with it.
Below is an image of what is included. All pieces are wooden, except for the felt leaves atop the carrots, small metal pieces atop the worms, and a small metal magnet embedded into the bottom of the rabbit.
There is one of each piece of fruit, and there are some unique fruits in this group - jack fruit, dragon fruit, star fruit, and pomegranate. There is one matching hole shape around the sides of the car for each piece of fruit. Load the fruit from the top or from the sides. There are 8 carrots that sit in the holes on top (see the image at the top of this page). The four white carrots are a tad smaller that the four red. I did not notice the difference until I tried to plant them. Four of the holes are a little bigger and the red carrots will go into those. There are 8 worms that sit down into holes around the carrots. There are five different colored worms, two of each color (green, yellow, purple, red, pink). The worms each have a small metal piece on the top.
You can load the fruit into the car and then plant the garden, or vice versa. There is enough room either way and the pieces will not come out once the car starts to roll.
Overseeing this bountiful carrot garden is one happy rabbit. The rabbit has a small magnet embedded in the bottom. Looking at the picture at the top of the page, the rabbit should be able to sit atop the worms. Unfortunately this is not the case, it is just too heavy. PhotoShop allows him to sit up there, but gravity does not. However, you can tap the bottom of the rabbit to the top of each worm and pull them out of the garden before they wreck havoc on your carrot crop.
Try this:
- Load the fruit into the car through the sides, finding each matching hole.
- Match each piece of fruit to the hole, but only push it in part way. Can you stop pushing before it falls into the car?
- Pull the worms out by pairs, using the bunny, and name the color as you go.
- Pull the worms out by hand and see how many you can hold in your hand as you go without dropping any. Can you do it again and grab one more?
- Hide the fruit pieces around the room. The let the individual push the car around the floor and find and load the fruit pieces.
- Grab and pull multiple carrots, using only their leaves. How many can you manage to pull at the same time with only one hand? If you can get them all, declare yourself "Top Bunny" and choose a name for yourself.
- Hold the car in one hand while you pick up and manipulate each piece of fruit to load through the hole.
- Set up the activity by putting the fruit in positions (on the table top) where they must be manipulated, in-hand, to orient for placement.
- Name each fruit as you pick it up and load it.
- Have a bowl of fruit pieces standing by to enjoy as, or after you play. Try fruits you haven't tasted before.
- If you've made it reading this far, I will let you in on a little secret. I sure miss working with kids. It was fun to write this and I am ready to take this car and get to therapy. Alas, no one to use it with.
- Work on manual dexterity, spatial skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation.
