-->

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.


Dec 23, 2018

LEGO Race 3000

As much fun in building the game board as in playing.

Yes, there are a handful of Lego games out there for diehard fans. Lego Race 3000 is a race-car-driving themed game for up to four players. Before you can play you have the fun of building the game board and die from the instruction book.

The game board and die, once they are created and ready for play.


Instruction book.

Object:
Be the first player to make one-lap, counter-clockwise, around the board.

Set up:
Build the game board. Place the yellow pieces on the inside of the track if you want to add the option for shortcuts. Place the two orange turbo tiles on the die. Place the board and the die between the players. Each player takes one car and seven small, movement squares (these will gradually be added to the die). Each player places one movement square on the die.

Play:
Players take turns. Each turn, the player will begin by rolling the die and doing one of the following:
  • Die sides without movement squares - Place one of your movement squares on the die and move your car forward one square. If after placing your movement square you now have more than one movement square on that side of the die, move one space for each movement square.
  • Die sides with movement squares - If there is still room on the die and you still have movement squares left, place one of your movement squares on the die and move your car one space forward. Then, all players who have movement squares on that side of the die can move their cars one space forward to the next available space. You will take turns doing this, starting with the original player and moving clockwise.
Here are additional instructions for play:
  • Overtaking - If your car cannot move to the next space forward because another car is already there, your can can overtake that car and move to the next available space in front of that car.
  • Turbo Boost - Move your car to the next orange brick on the racetrack when you throw an orange turbo tile on the die. If this space is already occupied, overtake this car and move to the next available space ahead of it.
  • Oil Slicks - If your car hits an oil slick (space with a black LEGO piece on it) you must remove one of your movement tiles from the die and then you can remove the oil slick and remain on that spot until your next turn. You cannot turbo boost over an oil slick.
  • Changing Lanes - Since it is a two-lane track, you may change lanes when you land on an orange brick.
Once someone crosses the finish line, place his car on the podium and award him the trophy while the other cars continue to race for second and third place.

Play over and over, using and building your own track design. For more information about Legos, read my post on Building Skills with Construction Toys.

Try this with any Lego set:
  • Give a few minutes to examine the pieces at the beginning so that the person can examine the different shapes and how they snap together.
  • Turn pieces on the table so that they can't be picked up by the child in the correct orientation. Ask him to turn each piece in-hand after picking it up.
  • Place a piece in the individual's palm, or at the base of the fingers, in the incorrect orientation and ask him to bring it to the fingertips and turn it in-hand for placement.
  • Give the beginner one piece at a time while building and point to the piece on the guide to show where it should go.
  • Ask the child to pick up the model and hold it in one hand while adding pieces with the other hand so that both hands work together while adding pieces (instead of adding pieces while the model is on the table).
  • Show the child how to hold the model with the non-dominant hand while "pinching" the new part on with the dominant hand.
  • Ask "what is different" at each new step to focus on where the new parts will go.
  • Keep the unused pieces in a pile so that the child will have to search for each needed piece. Turn some of the pieces upside down or half cover them so they will look different from the picture.
  • Advise the child to hold the model in the same orientation as the one in the picture to aid in orienting pieces.
  • Catch mistakes as they happen, as an incorrectly placed piece may throw off the rest of the project. Tell the individual that his model does not look exactly like the picture and see if he can identify the mistake and correct it on his own before jumping in to help.
  • Work on executive functions, sequencing, visual discrimination, visual closure, visual form constancy, spatial relations/position in space, visual memory, figure ground, eye-hand coordination, in-hand manipulation, manual dexterity, precise fine motor control, hand arch development, separation of sides of hand, using two hands together, finger strength, social interaction skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
In the box:166 LEGO pieces, buildable die, instruction booklet
 
If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment.