Bed Bugs

Can you remove the bed bugs with tweezers while the bed vibrates?

Games with tweezers and tongs almost always get a second look from occupational therapists, and this one is no exception. Place the 48 bugs on the bed, flip the switch, and watch them jump. Removing the bugs while the bed is still is one thing, removing them while they are jumping is a whole other challenge.

 

These tweezers are smooth overall but they have raised grooves at the bottom on the inside, making it easier to grab and hold the bugs. I am almost never crazy about the tweezers that come with these games, although they can often be used. Tweezers that you don't want to give kids are ones that do not open wide enough to drop an item, or that do not pop back open wide enough once an item is dropped.

 

The bed has an on/off switch that will make the bed vibrate when on. Requires 2 C batteries. All pieces are made of smooth, hard plastic. 

Object:
Be the first player to remove all your colored bugs from the bed. 

Set up:
Give each player a pair of colored tweezers. Put the bugs on the bed that match the tweezers color for each player. Turn the bed on so that it begins to vibrate.

Play: 
All players work to take their color of bugs off the bed until someone succeeds. 

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

Try this:

• Start with just one bug color on the bed when it is not moving to get used to picking up the bugs with the tweezers. Then turn the bed on and pick up the bugs. Then turn the bed off and mix all colored bugs on the bed and pick up only your color. Lastly mix all colored bugs together on the bed and turn the vibration on. 
• Place all the bugs on the bed. Turn the bed on and time yourself to see how long it takes you to clear them all. Play again and try to beat your score.
• Play alone and take the bugs off by color. Use the yellow tweezers to take off the yellow bugs, the green tweezers to take off the green bugs, etc.
• Play alone and take the bugs off and build a pattern: purple, yellow, green, orange, purple, yellow, green, orange, etc.
• Sort the bugs into four piles by color. Pick up a few bugs in the dominant hand and bring them to the fingertips, one at a time without dropping, to place into piles by color.
• Scatter the bugs on the tabletop. Pick up one bug and push it into the palm with the thumb (squirreling). Pick up a second bug and do the same, without dropping either bug. How many bugs can you squirrel into the palm without dropping any? Put them away by the handfuls.
• Place 1+ bugs in the individual's palm and ask him to bring them to the fingertips, one at a time, and stand them upright on the bed while setting up for play.
• Work on manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, fine motor control, tool use, separating the two sides of the hand, visual discrimination, figure ground, visual tracking, eye-hand coordination, sequencing, socialization skills, process skills, executive functioning skills, values, play and leisure exploration and participation
  

In the box: Plastic bed that shakes and jiggles, 48 plastic bugs, 4 sets of tweezers