Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle

Rush Hour Traffic Jam - A logic game that is an OT favorite.

Rush Hour Traffic Jam has long been a favorite of OTs for several reasons: 1) It practices skills like logic, problem solving, planning and spatial reasoning, 2) It has 40 challenges that increase in difficult as you go and 3) It appeals to many people in general (if people like it, they will want to play it). The goal is simply to move the other vehicles out of the way so that your red car can drive off the grid, as you see in the image above. Many times the puzzles look downright impossible to solve, so it is also very satisfying when you are successful.

The grey game grid is made of hard plastic and there is only one opening around the perimeter to drive through. There is a door in the side of the box that slides open so you can store the 40 challenge cards inside the grid. There is a slot at the top of the grid where you can stand your puzzle card if you want. O

There are 12 cars and 4 trucks. Cars each take up two spaces on the grid and trucks take up three. All vehicles are hollow plastic and each is a different color. Vehicles can only travel in the direction they are in after you set up the challenge and they also must stay on that same path.

There are 40 challenges in four different skill levels - beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert. The puzzle side of the card will show you which vehicles to use and exactly where to place them. The back of the card shows you the solution, move by move, by vehicle letter and then whether they move left or right and by how many spaces. Puzzle number one takes 8 moves to complete. Puzzle number 40 takes 51 moves to complete. Here is the first card from each level:

Front of card with set up.

 

Back of card with solution.

If you like this game and can't get enough, don't worry, it comes in several themes and I have blogged about them all. Check our Railroad Rush Hour, Safari Rush Hour and Rush Hour Junior. Railroad and Safari also have square pieces that can travel in any direction. Fun!

If you are interested in reading about other one-person logic puzzles, check out my post on What' is Your Therapy Box? Logic Puzzle Edition.
  
Object:
Clear the grid lock so that the red car can safely drive off the grid.

Set up:
Choose a challenge card and stand it in the slot on the game grid. Use the vehicles to set up the grid exactly like the image on the card.

Play:
Move the vehicles out of the way of the door to clear the path for the red car to drive off. The cards must stay on the grid on the path they are on, no lifting cars off the grid and moving them around. The strategy that has always worked for me is to ask myself "Who is blocking the door?" Then I proceed to move that vehicle out of the way. Usually someone is blocking them so I ask "Who is blocking them?". Keep asking this question until you get to a car you can move. Move it out of the way and then start moving the other cars so the car before it can move. Work backwards until you clear the door.

Try this:

• Make a game out of just setting up the vehicles, following the challenge cards, if the puzzles will be too difficult to complete. It's fun just setting up the traffic jams.
• Complete the first couple of moves to get the individual started and model how to play.
• Work backwards. Do all but the last move, then do all but the last two moves, then do all but the last three moves, etc. Allow the individual to complete the puzzle each time, getting more difficult as you go.
• Complete a challenge as the individual looks on. Talk out loud as you problem solve to help the person learn. Then ask him to complete the same challenge.
• Ask the question "Who is blocking the exit?" If you can move the car and open the exit, go from there. If you can't move it, then ask "Who is blocking that car?" (the car that is blocking the car that is blocking the exit). Keep asking the question until you can move a car and then work from backwards from there.
• Choose a challenge card and have the individual set up the board. Read the answer, step-by-step, from the back and have the individual follow your directions to complete the puzzle. For instance say move the blue truck two spaces to the left, move the dark green car up 2 spaces, etc. Keep moving until finish the challenge. You will need to call the cars by color instead of letter since letters are not printed on the cars. Good for working on left-right.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual closure, visualization, figure ground, spatial relations, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, logic, problem solving, planning, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: Game grid, 16 vehicles, 40 challenge cards

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