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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.


Jun 17, 2016

Socken Zocken

Socken Zocken - Sock it to me!
Twenty four pairs of almost-matching socks will require concentration to pair up in Socken Zocken. The soks are made of a heavier card stock and they are all the same shape, all striped, only differing in color. The mini clothespins are wood and look like the real thing. Do kids even know what clothespins are these days?

Object:
Be the first player to collect 3 clothespins.

Set up:
Scatter all the socks randomly on the table top. Place the clothespins nearby.

Play:
On go, all players simultaneously find matching socks until someone scores five pair and grabs the sock monster to signal the round is over. Closely examine the five pair to make sure they match, as differences can be subtle. If they all match, the person gets a clothespin and another round begins. Play continues this way until someone has won three clothespins and is declared the winner.



Try this:
  • Start with fewer pairs if 48 socks is overwhelming.
  • Arrange the matching socks in different orientations so that they will be more difficult to find.
  • Place all the socks randomly on the table. Choose any one sock. Everyone looks quickly to find the matching sock. That person chooses a sock at random and the game continues. Or, separate the socks so there are one of each pair in two different piles. Randomly scatter one pile, put the other in a bag. Pull one out of the bag and look for the match.
  • Use it like a puzzle and snap the socks back into the frames that they came out of.
  • Play while teaching to pair socks and/or fold laundry.
  • Use the clothespins and clip the matching pairs onto a string or the side of a box.
  • Work on manual dexterity, visual discrimination, figure ground, visual scanning, process skills, executive functioning skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
In the box: 1 sock monster, 13 clothespins, 48 socks
 
For more information, click on the image below.


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