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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 6, 2022

A-Z Pegboard Set - Lauri

A-Z Pegboard Set - Comes in upper and lower case letters.

 This is a nice set that includes large durable letters and LOTS of stack-able pegs. I have frequently bought items manufactured by the Lauri brand. They have fun stuff that is usually a little cheaper than the bigger name brands (I'm not advertising for them, just my opinion).

If you are working on letter recognition, a set like this can make that learning fun. There are 26 upper case letters in the box, one for each letter of the alphabet. The letters are made of firm foam and are 3/8" thick. Also included are 130 pegs made of colorful hard plastic, 2.75" long. The bright peg colors match the letter colors - red, green, yellow, blue, orange. Below are 2 pictures showing the sizes. I am holding the letters on the right (I have the lower case letter set.)



 

Try this:

  • Start by tracing the letter with your finger before adding pegs. Do it two or three times and speak the letter out loud each time. Then trace the letter on the table next to the letter. Now add the pegs.
  • Practice colors by adding all of the same color to a letter. Or use different colors and say each color out loud as you add it.
  • Place the pegs in a mixed pile on the table. Call out each color as it is needed and have the individual locate a peg of that color in the pile.
  • Pick up a leg and turn it in-hand before placing it in the letter. You can increase the odds of needing to orient a peg by the way you set up. Turn most of them so that they are facing away from you in the pile. Or stand the pegs up so the individual will have to pick up and turn to place. Observe that they don't turn their hand, so the thumb is on the bottom, so that they don't have to manipulate in-hand.
  • Discourage turning the peg on the table to the correct orientation before picking it up. Discourage placing it against the body as a support surface to turn and orient it. 
  • Model turning the peg in-hand by placing every other peg in the letter, if it is fatiguing to the individual.
  • Line up letters to spell words, then place the pegs. Just remember, there is only one of each letter.
  • Line up the letters in alphabetical order, saying each letter as you place it. Add the pegs or don't. This will take several feet - try doing it on the floor.
  • Using just one hole in a letter, stack pegs as tall as you want. Ask the individual to copy your tower of pegs. Demonstrate how to use two hands, one to steady the tower, one to add pegs. Reach way up.
  • Add assorted colored pegs to each letter. Take a picture of each letter on your cell phone. Show each letter (picture), one at a time, and ask the individual to add the same color pegs as in the pic.
  • Sing the A-B-C song as you sort through the pile to find each letter.
  • Work on letter recognition, visual discrimination, spatial relations, sequencing, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, coordinated use of two hands, process skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation.

In the box: 26 letters, 130 pegs. 

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