Top That!

Top That! - A logic stacking game

There are a few game manufacturers that I keep up with: SmartGames, ThinkFun, MindWare, FatBrain, BlueOrange and FoxMind. I watch the "coming soon" section on their websites, and I will pay full price if I see something I like (you can often pick it up cheaper on Amazon than on the manufacturers website). Somehow Top That!, by BlueOrange, slipped by me and I didn't know of its existence until I found it second hand a few days ago. I immediately put it to the test because it is not easy to find logic games that you can use with moderate cognitive impairment where kids don't eventually top out due to difficulty.

I have a couple of other magician themed logic games (Oops!, Houdini Brainteaser), and Top That! is the easiest. This game also reminds me of Bunny Boo, which kids have loved and is a fun activity for working on visual form constancy and spatial relations.

Each player will receive five plastic pieces that you might expect to see in a magic show. There are four sets (so up to four can play) of the five pieces: rabbit, coin, tube, cup, hat (see image below). The hat, cup and tube are hollow and the four pieces will fit "invisibly" inside the hat. You will have to stack the pieces according to three rules that will determine whether each piece will be visible, invisible and/or empty (see rules below). 

The challenge cards will show you which pieces you will be using for a particular challenge. If the piece(s) is printed in gray on the card, that means that the piece must be invisible (hidden inside another piece). If there are stars around a piece, that means that the piece is empty. There is an advancement in difficulty but the cards are not marked in any way. Start with the cards where all the pieces are showing and you are simply stacking, there are four of these cards. Next move to cards with either a hidden piece(s) or an empty piece. Finally go to puzzles that have both hidden and empty pieces. There are four challenges that only use three pieces, the rest use four or five. Something else I like about the cards is that they show the pieces in different orientations.

 
If you would rather watch a video on how to play, click on the image below to go to an Amazon listing with a video. Even though this game has game rules, it can just as easily be played 1:1 in a therapy session, using the pattern cards without playing a game.

If you would like to read more about one-person logic puzzles, check out my post What's in Your Therapy Box? Logic Puzzles Edition. 


Object:
Determine the number of cards to use as the goal before you start. For instance, the first player to win five cards is the winner. Or play until the deck is gone and the person with the most cards is the winner.

Set up:
Give each player a set of 5 plastic pieces. Set the deck of challenge cards face-down near the players.

Play:
Turn the top card face-up in the middle of the players. Everyone plays at the same time, using their own set of five pieces. Players stack their pieces so they meet the challenge indicated by the images on the card. The three rules of play are:

1. Objects printed in color must be visible on the stack. An object is considered visible if 100% of it can be seen from the side.
2. Objects printed in grey must be invisible, hidden somewhere inside the stack. An object is considered hidden if it is completely inside another object. 
3. Objects printed in color and with stars around them must be empty. No other objects can be hidden inside them.

The first person to build their stack according to the challenge card calls out "Top that!" If his stack is correct, he wins the card. If not, the other players keep going until someone is correct and wins the card. Play until someone earns the agreed upon amount of cards and wins the game.

Try this:

• Play with the pieces before you start. Show how pieces can fit into other pieces and how they can stack.
• Look over the cards before you start to play. Point out how the same piece can look different on different cards - sometimes grey, sometimes in color, sometimes in different orientations.
• Choose a challenge card and work the puzzle while the child watches. Talk out loud as you work the puzzle, so the individual can learn how to think about the pieces and how to solve the puzzle. Then take it apart and ask them to solve it.
• Stack the deck before you start playing so that you are not jumping around, so you can have a steady increase in difficulty over the challenges.
• Look at the card before starting to stack. Point out things like which pieces are grey and will be hidden, which piece(s) they will fit into (to hide), which pieces will be the only ones you will see (those printed in color and the hat is always visible).
• Push to the side any unneeded pieces before you start each puzzle so that don't confuse. 
• Pretend you are a magician to add a little fun and reinforce what you will be doing for a certain challenge card. For instance, say things like "I will make this coin disappear and all you will see is the hat and the rabbit". Then work the puzzle.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual form constancy, spatial relations, manual dexterity, problem solving, logic, process skills, socialization skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 4 plastic hats, 4 plastic tubes, 4 plastic coins, 4 plastic cups, 4 plastic rabbits, 55 challenge cards

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

Pattern Play Revolution

Pattern Play Revolution - 6 rings, 30 patterns

I like Mindware's line of Pattern Play products. Pattern Play Revolution is a switch from the usual block pieces, as it consists of 6 rings. If you avoid my rookie mistake, you may end up liking this one too. 

Each finished puzzle will use all six rings and is fairly large, measuring approximately 11 1/8" in diameter. Each ring is printed on both sides, so there are 12 choices. One side of each ring has the solid, straight sections as you see in the image below, and the other side has scalloped sections, as you can see in the image above.

Your puzzles will be assembled on a wooden base that has a peg in the middle of it, which the middle piece fits over to keep it centered and it will keep the pieces from sliding off the base once assembled. So here is my rookie mistake that you need to avoid: Do not try to assemble the puzzle from the outside in. In other words, start with the smallest ring and work out, do not start with the largest ring and work in. If you start with the largest ring, the pieces fit together just a little too snugly. Yes, you want them snug so they don't spin and turn on you, but once you place a ring, you can have a heck of a time turning it if you did not lay it down in the exact position you wanted. You can't just put your hand on it and try to spin a ring, I had to try and wedge a fingernail between rings and semi lift, scoot it over. I knew the kids that I was going to use this with ahead of time when I bought it and I was discouraged at the thought of having to eliminate several of them because I knew they couldn't turn the rings, once placed. Then I wondered what would happen if you started with the middle ring, and BINGO! Rings slide smoothly around the middle ring(s) when you hold the rings you have already placed with one hand and turn the outermost ring with the other. Easy peasy. Hard to believe it doesn't work both ways.

There are 15 round pattern cards with a different pattern on each side and they measure 5" in diameter. You can tell by looking at the spiraling-type patterns on the box cover (above) that the rings will need to be put in place with care and those types of puzzles will be a little harder to figure out for some. The puzzles are not ranked in any type of order.

LEFT: Finished puzzle.  RIGHT: Pattern cards.

Check out the other 2 games by Pattern Play:

• Pattern Play 3D
• Original Pattern Play

For more of this type of activity, see my post on What's in Your Therapy Box? Pattern Blocks Edition.

Try this:

• Put the rings on in any order before playing a game. Spin them around so the player can see how they will be adjusted.
• Line up the new ring as close as possible to the last ring before dropping it into place. Or, place the new ring anywhere and spin it into place.
• Show the pattern card to the player. Have them identify each ring and you place it for him. 
• Fix a point on each ring as you place it, then line up the next ring in relation to it. 
• Cut out several white circles the size of the pattern card. Then for each circle cut out the inside shape of a smaller circle. Lay this on the card to block out all rings that are not being used to reduce confusion when following the pattern. Tracing paper works best for this as you can't really see through the 20# paper.
• Start with the rings on the table, some of them turned to the wrong side, so that the individual will need to identify which side will be used.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual closure, eye-hand coordination, coordinated use of both hands, manual dexterity, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: A wooden base, 6 wooden rings, 15 pattern cards
 
If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.

Q-Bitz Jr.

Q-Bitz Jr. - A great place to start

I have long been a fan of the Q-Bitz visual perceptual puzzles and have already blogged about Q-Bitz and Q-Bitz Extreme. New this year from Mindware is Q-Bitz Jr. Q-Bitz Jr. is a much simplified version, or in other words, a great place for beginners to start.

The object of the game is to use your blocks to recreate the pattern on the pattern card. The first two Q-Bitz games have 16 blocks per tray. Q-Bitz Jr. has only four blocks per tray, so each pattern card uses only four cubes.

There are four sets of cubes and each set is a different color (blue, purple, gold, orange), so up to four people can play. To create the pattern, the individual must be able to look at the black and white card and see the white as white, but the black as their individual color (blue, purple, gold, or orange). The cubes are larger than the other Q-Bitz game cubes, but I still use them for in-hand manipulation for most.

The patterns are numbered in the bottom right hand corner and increase in difficulty as you go. Many beginners are not able to separate the four cubes mentally so I will start by covering up all but one cube at a time. Just cut out a white square the size of a pattern card and then cut out one block. After they can separate one, then we advance to two, on onward to all four.  

Here is an example of a more difficult pattern and how I cover them.

 

Object:

Have the most cards after 6 rounds.

Set up:

Give each player a tray and four cubes. Place the cards in a fac down stack on the table.

Play:

Turn over the top card. All players use their own cubes and, working simultaneously, create the pattern on their tray. The first person done yells Q-Bitz and wins the card. Everyone empties their tray, a new card is turned, and you go again. The first person to win 6 cards wins the game.

Try this:

• Let the individual copy what you do as you place each cube in your tray if he is not able to read the card and separate the four cubes.
• Make a design on one tray and let the individual use it as a pattern to make the same design (3D pattern to 3D pattern).
• Cup the hand(s), shake, and throw the cubes on the table. Once all available for the design are used, pick up the remaining cubes and shake again. Keep going until you use all the cubes.
• If the player has made an error, ask him to compare his pattern, cube by cube, with the pattern card and see if he can identify and correct it independently before assisting.
• Use verbal directions if the individual is having difficulty orienting the cube. I will say something like the white triangle goes across the top and down the left side, or I will point it out if they don't know right/left.
• If placing a cube in the puzzle for the individual, show him how to orient it and then take it out and turn it askew. Give it back to him to place.
• Use the cubes without the trays and make a pattern with all the cubes such as AB or ABB. Start the pattern and let the individual finish it.
• Demonstrate and then ask the individual to turn each cube in-hand if he is using the tabletop, his body, or two hands to do it. 
• Place one cube at a time in the individual's palm and ask him to bring it to the fingertips and then orient it for placement.
• Use the back side of unused cards or a white paper to cover all the black and white squares except for the one you are working on if the individual has difficulty mentally separating it. Once he improves, move to covering all but one line, then two lines, etc.
• Focus on the white if the player has trouble translating the black to his color. For instance I will say the cube has a white circle, or it is white across the top and down the right side. 
• Work on visual discrimination, spatial relations, figure ground, visual closure, visual memory, in-hand manipulation, separation of two sides of hand, palmar arch development, manual dexterity, executive functioning skills, socialization skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

• In the box: 4 wooden trays, 16 wooden cubes (four for each tray), 60 pattern cards
  

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

Pattern Play 3D

Pattern Play 3D

Another winner from MindWare, this game has something to challenge most. The pattern cards are numbered 1-40 and increase in difficulty as you go. This is my favorite kind of activity because it will help the player grow in skill as each new challenge is conquered. The model above is number 40 of 40 designs. As the puzzles get more difficult you may not be able to see all the pieces, as above, and you may need to figure out how to balance pieces as you work. Like the original Pattern Play by MindWare, the pieces are solid wood, durable, and brightly painted.

The pieces all fit into a wooden tray, but the tray is not used for any of the patterns, just storage. One of the features about games that I do not like, is when the pieces have to fit back into the box in a certain way or you can't close the lid. During therapy, I often don't have the time or interest to mess with that. Within the 40 puzzles of this activity, there are two that are assembled single layer, square and flat against the table, not standing up from the table like the rest. My husband was quick to observe that either one of those pattern cards could be used to put the pieces away. So that quickly settled that issue. Or, you could just leave the wooden box out of the game box and use it for something else, like putting your Lego pieces into while you are building a model (my first solution). The wooden box is smaller than the game box, so the pieces can loosely fit in the game box if the wooden box is removed. Enough said about the box.

This has many of the qualities I like in a therapy tool - pieces to manipulate, challenges that increase in difficulty, opportunities to sequence, plan, problem solve - and I feel it was a good investment for me. I would highly recommend.

First few patterns.

If you are interested in more activities of this type, check out my post What's in Your Therapy Box? Pattern Blocks Edition.

Try this:

• Build images flat against the table if the individual cannot balance the pieces without tumbling them. Not all models can be built flat, but many can.
• Put only the pieces needed in front of the individual if he cannot separate them from the background of all the pieces. Or add just a few unnecessary pieces at a time to simplify the task.
• Give the individual one piece at a time to direct the building sequence if he cannot plan how to build the structure.
• Build the structure first as the individual watches. Talk out loud as you problem solve and build the structure to teach the individual how you go about the process. Take the structure apart and let the individual build it.
• Catch mistakes as they happen as they will impact everything that happens next. I give a vague comment such as "Are you sure" or "Check again" and let the individual figure out what he did wrong and correct it on his own if he can.
• Keep the encouragement going as the puzzle gets more difficult, especially if the individual is prone to frustration. Some structures may topple and the individual may need to start over.
• Lay the pieces in different orientations on the table top so the person has to pick each one up and turn it to find the correct fit.
• Use consistent language while building when working on spatial orientation, such as rotate, flip, turn, above, right, left, under, etc. 
• Work on visual discrimination, visual closure, spatial relations, eye-hand coordination, visual form constancy, figure ground, visualization, manual dexterity, coordinated use of both hands, eye-hand coordination, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 22 wooden blocks, 20 pattern cards (40 designs total)
Ages 5+

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