Get a Grip on Patterns

Get A Grip on Patterns - Mini clothespins and pattern cards included.

Get a Grip on Patterns is a simple clip board activity that is great for working on many areas. The clips (clothespins) are small but easy to handle, and take some strength to squeeze open.



 

The grid is white solid plastic and has raised tabs, five across and five down. The pattern cards have holes so that you can place the card on top of the grid, the holes fitting over the tabs. To work with the pattern cards, simply lay one on the grid before beginning to clip. Each tab will now be surrounded by a color. Attach a color-matching clip on each tab.

There are 10 patterns cards and some of the patterns are symmetrical and some are not. The backs are all blank, so you can make a new pattern on the back of each card and go from 10 patterns to 20! I just used the standard color Crayola markers and the colors matched just right. I made the colored circles on the pattern card pictured above. Even though this activity is kind of pricey, I think I paid about $35 for it, I have used this a lot and it turned out to be well worth the money for me.

There are 30 clips and only 25 tabs, but don't lose any clips as some of the patterns use all of one color. Colors are purple, yellow, blue, red, green, and orange.

If you like the idea of the small clothespins check out Peg Domino. Same company, same small clips in a game format.

Try this:

• Stand the clip(s) on the tabletop, upside down. Ask the individual to pick up and turn each clip in-hand as he orients it for placement.
• Remove clips when done by pulling them off, one at a time, turning the hand over, and dropping it into the palm. Hold the grid still with the other hand. How many can the individual pull off and hold without dropping any?
• Remove clips when done by pulling them off, one at a time, and squirreling them into the palm without turning the hand over. How many can the individual pull off and hold without dropping any?
• Ask the individual to cup the non-dominant hand, squeezing the fingers to form a hollow. Drop the clips one at a time into the hand. Can he keep the hand in that position and hold all the clips? Reverse hands and do again.
• Start by completing patterns with the card on the grid, then complete patterns with the card next to the grid, then complete patterns with the card propped up in front of the grid.
• Stand the card up in front of the grid. Give the individual one clip at a time and ask him to place it anywhere that color appears on the pattern (requires counting rows and columns).
• Place one clip at a time in the palm of the dominant hand. Ask the individual to move the clip to the fingertips, orient and place on the grid using only that hand.
• Show one row of colors to the individual and ask him to memorize the order. Repeat the colors out loud to help remember. Turn the card over and see if the individual can complete the row from memory.
• Ask the individual to cup the non-dominant hand, squeezing the fingers to form a hollow. Place several clips in the hand and ask the individual to hold them as he uses them one at a time.
• Ask the individual to make up his own pattern, calling out each color as he places it on the grid.
• Work on manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, grasp, pinch, finger strength, palmar arch development, thumb opposition, coordinated use of both hands, motor planning, visual discrimination, visual memory, figure ground, spatial relations, sequencing, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 1 plastic grid, 10 pattern cards, 30 colored clips (5 each of 6 colors)



Pix Mix

Pix Mix! figure ground

Pix Mix! is a great figure ground game where you control the difficulty level. The 80 transparent cards are all clear plastic with simple black line drawings. Stack the cards, one on top of the other, and try to "see" everything in the stack.

The pictures on the box (above) include a pair of scissors, a wrench, an anchor, a bowling pin, and a palm tree. With 80 cards, there are so many different combinations that you could play this a long time without ever repeating a stack. There is also an expansion pack with cards that you can buy.

Stacks of cards will be placed in a cardholder so they stay in place. There are four cardholders, so up to four people can play. Up to eight cards can be stacked into the cardholder, but that is a tight fit.

Before starting the game, I like to flip through the pile and make sure that all players can identify each object. There is also an expansion pack available that include just the cards. If you just want to stack and don't care about the jacket, timer, or score pad, you could just buy the expansion pack.

Object:

Identify the most objects before the 30 seconds is up. Or play several rounds and add the score from each round. Highest scorer wins.

Set up:

Decide how many pictures will be stacked for the game. Each person will stack that many pictures, for another player, and places them in a card holder. Each player then passes his card holder to the person on his left.

Play:

Players all play at the same time. When the signal is given, turn over the 30 second timer and each player lifts the lid on his card holder and starts to search. Write the answers on the score card and stop when the timer runs out. When the score cards run out, just use any paper to write on. The person with the most correct answers is the winner.

Try this:

• Start easy with two pictures, then three, then four, and work your way up as skill increases.
• Give answers verbally instead of writing.
• Increase the difficulty by putting like-shaped pictures together going in the same orientation. For instance a toothbrush on top of a pencil on top of a screwdriver.
• Make the game easier by stacking items that are not similar in shape so it is easier to follow the outline.
• Start easy by presenting one card and asking the individual to follow the line with his eyes, tracing the object visually. Then stack two cards and ask the individual to start tracing a line. Can he start and end at the same spot and see the object?
• Stack several cards of pictures going in different directions. Ask directional questions. For instance on the example on the box above, ask which object if leaning toward the right (bowling pin), which object is lying horizontally (east to west - scissors).
• Work on figure ground, visual discrimination, visual form constancy, visual closure, visual tracing, spatial relations, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, coordinated use of both hands, executive functioning skills, process skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 80 transparent picture cards, 4 card holders, 30 second timer, score pad

 

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