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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.


Jul 5, 2016

Tri-Spy

Tri-Spy - This visual spatial challenge will require concentration.

Tri-Spy is a challenging visual spatial game that requires concentration, pattern recognition and problem solving. The real challenge in this game is that the patterns can be built in any direction on the board and you will have to be able to "see" them in different orientations. 

Each card has one three-piece pattern. The pawns are made of wood.



Object:
Have the most cards at the end of the game.

Set up:
Place the board in the middle of the players. Place the pawns on the board as shown in the image above. Shuffle the deck of cards and place them randomly around the edge of the board as pictured. Place the remaining cards face down in a draw pile next to the board.

Play:
All players play simultaneously. Players look at the pattern cards and try to match any of them to the position of the pawns on the board. The pattern can be facing any direction, but must be an exact match to the pattern on a card. You are allowed to move one pawn to an unoccupied space to complete a pattern.  

When you see a pattern, call STOP and all players stop looking as you point out the pattern. if you are correct, take the card and replace it with one of the cards from the draw pile. Play until all the cards have been claimed. If you come to a dead end, no one can see any possible pattern, either end the game and count your cards to determine the winner, or clear one of the sides of the board of cards and add three new cards to keep playing.

Try this:
  • Shorten the game by playing with fewer cards.
  • Eliminate the speed and play alone.
  • Give the person one card and the three matching pegs. Ask them to set it up anywhere on the board. Turn the board a quarter and look at it from a different angle. Keep going until you have looked at if from all four sides to show how it can look different from different angles.
  • Make a pattern on the board to match a card. Give the player that card and two or three others and ask him to find the matching card. Put other random pawns on the board or make two patterns on the board and do again.
  • Choose one pattern card. Set the pegs up in that pattern and add all the rest of the pegs to the board. Give the player the card and ask them to find the pattern on the board.
  • Skip the game. Use the pegs and the pattern cards and see how many patterns you can make on the board at one time.
  • Give the individual one card and three pegs. Ask him to reproduce the pattern on the board. Turn the game board and ask him to turn the card to match the pattern in that orientation. Do four times to show how turning something can make it look different but still be the same.
  • Work on spatial relations, visual discrimination, executive functioning skills, manual dexterity, visual closure, process skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
In the box: 60 cards, 1 game board, 8 wooden markers (2 blue, 2 yellow, 2 red, 2 green)

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

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