Teddy Mix & Match

Teddy Mix & Match

What child doesn't like a cute teddy bear? They even appeal to grown ups like me! I like this Teddy Mix & Match memory game because the bear cards are large, whimsical, and have a little thickness to them, so they are easier to turn than flat cards.

The 12 sets of bears (24 cards in all) are wearing lots of different outfits including a baby bear wearing pajamas, a black and white panda bear with bamboo, a polar bear with an ice cream cone, a brown chocolate bear, a green gummy bear, a tan cookie bear, a fluffy teddy bear, a bear with a honey pot, a bear wearing blue overalls, a bear with tan overalls, and a bear wearing jeans and a sweater.

 This is a Ravensburger game, a name I associate with quality and durability, and they have lasted me a long time.

To read more about why memory games are so popular, read my post Memory Games. Why are They so Popular? This post also has links to the other memory games I have blogged about.

Object:

Have the most bears at the end of the game.

Set up:

Place the bears in a face-down grid on the table. Placing them in a grid makes it easier to remember the locations as opposed to just randomly putting them down anywhere.

Play:

Players take turns. Turn over two cards. If they match, take them and your turn is over. If they don't match, leave them on the table and turn them back over. Your turn is over. Remember the cards that other players turn over in case you need them for a future match. Play until all cards are claimed. The player with the most cards is the winner.

Try this:

• Tell the individual to look to remember where each bear is that is turned back over, instead of just a casual glance.
• Place one card from each set in the middle of the table. The other cards won't be used. Ask positional questions such as 'which bear is next to the panda bear' and 'which bear is under the pajama bear'. If the child does not understand what the pajama bear is, show him the match to the pajama bear card so he knows what he is looking for.
• Place a small stack of cards in the non-dominant hand, push them off one at a time with the thumb, and take with the other hand to place while setting up.
• Lay one card from each set in the middle of the table. Produce one of the remaining cards and ask the child to find the match. Do this one at a time until all are matched. Start with fewer cards for an easier game and add them back in gradually for a more difficult game. 
• Ask the child to flip and pick up each card where it is, not pull it to the edge of the table to turn.
• Start slow when teaching the memory game to a beginner.  Only line up two sets of cards to turn over and match. When that is mastered use three sets, then four sets, etc.
• Turn all 24 cards face-up on the table, then find and pick them up by matches.
• Talk about the bear's outfits - where they might be going or what they might be doing dressed as they are.
• Place two different bears on the table. Give the individual one of the matching bears and ask him to find which one is the same. Add more bears on the table to look over as the individual can manage it.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual memory, figure ground, spatial relations, manual dexterity, executive functioning skills, process skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 24 large bear shaped cards, 12 sets in all

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