The Very Hungry Caterpillar Twirl & Toss

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Twirl & Toss Game

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Twirl & Toss is a spinning caterpillar target game. Build the plastic caterpillar, turn it on, and throw plush fruit pieces toward it as it slowly spins. The twirling caterpillar is made up of five pieces, which you will easily snap together before playing. To turn the caterpillar on and off, press the small button on the base. On the green caterpillar body and the two green leaves are circles made of velcro. There are 10 circles on the caterpillar and five circles on each of the leaves. As you toss the plush fruit pieces they will catch on the velcro and stay put. There are 3 red apples, 3 purple plums, 3 green pears and 3 orange oranges. Requires 2 AA batteries. It makes a soft whirring sound as it spins. To play, give each player one particular color (3 pieces). Turn the machine on. All players throw at once to see who can be the first to get all of their pieces to stick. Play several rounds and see who wins the most rounds. Fully assembled the caterpillar is approximately 17.5" tall.

The fruit size (plush pear).

Try this:

• Place the twirling caterpillar at a distance where the individual can be successful, then move it back incrementally as the player improves.
• Play alone and count how many efforts it takes to get all the fruit on the caterpillar. If you miss, pick up the fruit and try again. Then play another game and try to beat your score.
• Mix the fruit and place on the playing surface. Call out either a color or a fruit name for the individual to throw.
• Pick up the fruit one piece at a time when putting the game away. Squirrel each piece into the palm, see how many the player can hold before dropping the fruit by handfuls into the box.
•  Work on visual discrimination, visual-motor integration, spatial relations/position in space, visual tracking, manual dexterity, motor planning, executive functioning skills, socialization skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 1 twirling caterpillar, 12 small plush fruit pieces