Pig Popper Target

Pig Popper Target

I was really tickled to stumble onto this Pig Popper Target because I have used the Pig Popper for some time now. This target is about 1/4" thick plastic and has a removable stand in the back (bottom) that holds it upright. The target has not tipped over on me once, even when hit fairly hard with flying balls. There is a net behind the opening for the mouth that drapes to the bottom of the pig, so lots of room for balls. I blogged earlier about the Pig Popper itself. This is a good activity if you are working on hand strength and/or hitting a target. The popper comes in about 20 different shapes, including animals, monsters, and seasonal shapes.

Try this:

• Once you can hit the target at one location, move it back a foot. Once you master that, move it back again.
• Start where the individual is and make the pig harder and harder to squeeze as you go. Pushing the ball into the pig's mouth gently will not require much hand strength to pop it out. Pushing it in as far as it will go will require much more hand strength to squeeze it out.
• Measure the distance you can pop the ball.  Go again and see if you can beat your distance.
• Make a large round target and tape it to the door. Divide the circle into several sections (like a bullseye) and assign points to the sections. Aim for the middle, and give points for wherever the ball hits. Play again and try to beat your score by getting closer and closer to the middle on most balls.
• Set up small targets and see if you can knock them over.
• Take the popper outside and aim for targets where you won't accidentally hit and break something (keep away from dogs or animals who might chew and/or swallow them).
• Set up targets on a level plane at equal distances, then a variety of elevated planes at equal distances, then at different distances.
• Set up buckets at different distances and aim to get them into the buckets.
• Hang (or hold up) a hula hoop and see how far back you can stand and still pop them through the hoop.
• Set up empty pop cans on the picnic table or ledge and see how many you can knock over.
• Make a game out of picking up the balls that fly astray (there will probably be lots) to make it seem less like work and more like fun. For instance give a point for each ball collected.
• Work on eye-hand coordination, hand and finger strength, visual tracking, coordinated use of both hands, social interaction, play exploration and participation, manual dexterity, spatial relations