Scatterpillar Scramble

Scatterpillar Scramble - Fine motor fun

Scatterpillar Scramble is known to many OTs who work with kids because of the whimsical character and the fine motor work involved. This game includes four of my favorite tweezers.

The goal of Scatterpillar Scramble is to use the tweezers to place the marbles in the caterpillar's cupped hands. That's a pretty straightforward task when the Scaterpillar is standing still. But once you push the green button, and the Scaterpillar begins to dance, it becomes much more challenging. The Scatterpillar sways quickly in unpredictable ways that can make it awkward to place the marbles. 

The marbles are lightweight plastic and come in four colors. The four marble colors match the four tweezer colors. It helps that the tweezers are rounded at the end to help hold the marble. They are made of lightweight plastic, so make sure to check from time to time that they spring back wide enough to let marbles drop out. Over time and after many squeezes, these types of tweezers can start to close up a little. I just adjust them by bending them out again. I have taken the tweezers out of this game and used them with other games with marbles because I like the cupped ends. 

Since the hands of the Scatterpillar are cupped, once the marble is placed, the movement of the Scatterpillar will not jar it lose. Start at the bottom and work your way up to the top as the marbles get harder to place as you go up. The rather loud music may be annoying to some, but there is no volume control or way to activate the movement without the music.

Object:

Be the first person to place all your marbles on the caterpillar.

Set up:

Each player chooses one color and takes that set of tweezers. Sort the marbles into the base by color. Snap the caterpillar into the base and set it in the middle of the players. Turn it on.

Play:

All players play at once, each using his set of tweezers to place his colored marbles onto the caterpillars hands. It can be quite hectic. First player done is the winner.

To see a list of games with tweezers and tongs, click here.

Try this:

• Place the marbles on the Scatterpillar with the music and movement off first.  After you can do that, then attempt with the movement on.
• Place the marbles with the fingers instead of the tweezers with the movement off, then on.
• Place two or more marbles in the palm and work them, one at a time, to the fingertips for placement without dropping the other(s).
• Once all the marbles are on the Scatterpillar, take them off one at a time and squirrel them in your hand as you go. How many can you hold without dropping any? Go again and try for one more.
• Mix all the marbles together, then choose and use all of one color from the mix. Use the matching color tweezers for each set of marbles.
• Call a color and ask the player to place that color marble.
• Mix the marbles in one big pile. Playing alone, ask the individual to tell you each color marble he has as he picks it up and places it.
• Sort the marbles by color into the four-part base using tweezers or fingers.
• Once all the marbles are on the Scatterpillar, take them off one at a time with the tweezers.
• Call the color and hand you want the individual to use to place each marble, such as green right, red left. Will be easier to do with the movement off, especially with the non-dominant hand. 
• Call the color marble and the side you want the player to place it on, such as blue left. Remember that when you sit across from someone, their right is opposite your left and vice versa.
• Ask the player to cup their hand. If they have difficulty, shape the palm by putting a small ball or round object in the hand and forming the hand around it. Remove the ball and ask the player to hold their hand in that position while they drop marbles one at a time into the palm. How many can they hold? Switch hands and try again. Put them away by the handfuls.
• Work on precise fine motor control, in-hand manipulation, tool use, visual discrimination, manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, pincer grasp, balance, reaching, proximal stability, motor planning, executive functioning skills, socialization skills,  process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: Scatterpillar, Scatterpillar base, 32 marbles (8 each of 4 colors), 4 tweezers.

If you are interested in purchasing this game or would just like more information, click on the link below.