Mega Bloks Junior Builders - 60 pieces

Mega Bloks Junior Builders - 60 pieces

As I noted in a previous blog titled Building Skills with Construction Toys, building sets are great for working on multiple skills simultaneously. Comparable in size and shape to LEGO Duplos, I purchased this Mega Bloks Junior Builders set because of the pattern cards. 

You can't see this very clear, but according to the picture of the tub (above, top right), there are three pattern cards shown. There are six models pictured on the front of the tub so I figured that would be three cards, with a model printed on each side. In reality, there are only two cards and only three patterns depicted. The fourth side is a picture of all the sets together. I felt that was misleading.

The tub is oversized, the blocks only take up about 1/3 of the space. The lid sits on the top and does not snap on at all, just sits there. I contacted Amazon and said I wanted to return the item. They refunded my money and told me to keep it.

Try this:

• Offer a few minutes of free play at the beginning so the child can get the feel of the pieces and learn how they go together.

• Give the beginner a piece at a time while building and point to the piece on the picture to show where it should go.
• Put out only the blocks that will be needed for each project so as not to overwhelm. Or just give one block as it is needed.
• Start with the smaller projects, end with the rainbow (increasing in difficulty).
• Keep the unused pieces in a pile so the child will have to search for each needed piece. Turn some of the pieces upside down or on their side so the child will have to recognize them from different perspectives.
• Advise the child to hold the model in the same orientation as the one in the picture if they are having trouble orienting a piece.
• Take time to play once your set is complete.
• Place a piece of white paper over any pieces (on the pattern card) above the layer you are working on if the individual has difficulty keeping track of where he is working. 
• Work on spatial relations, manual dexterity, visual discrimination, figure ground, visual closure, bilateral hand use, sequencing, finger strength and dexterity, creative play, problem solving, visual form constancy, play and leisure exploration and participation.

  In the tub: 60 pieces, 2 pattern cards, sticker sheet
Ages 24 months - 5 years

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

Imagination Magnets - Expansion Pack

Imagination Magnets Expansion Pack

This set is an expansion pack for the Imaginets kit that I blogged about earlier. Like the pieces in that set, the pieces in this pack are brightly painted wooden blocks with magnetic backs. At first glance I thought that this pack could stand alone without the original Imaginets set. But as I flipped through the pattern cards I realized otherwise. There are three block colors included with this set - pink, goldish orange, and blue. The first 10 patterns are created with only those three colors and blocks from this expansion set. However, the last 10 patterns include colored blocks that can only be found in the original Imaginets set, including yellow, purple, and green. 

 

Left - Blocks from this expansion pack.  Right - Blocks from this expansion pack plus the original kit.

When putting the two sets together, there will be two shades of blue and an orange, gold, and yellow. Some of the pieces in this set are also smaller than in the original set. Here is a picture comparing the two sets. The pieces on the left come with the original Imaginets set. The pieces on the right are from the Expansion Pack, sold separately.

The original block set starts with simpler designs with fewer pieces. I have found the original set very useful in my practice and it is well received by most. A good tool for working on multiple visual perceptual skills. I often use the magnetic pattern sets with beginners or individuals who have slight hand tremors or other conditions that impact their fine motor precision because these magnetic pieces, once laid, are much harder to disturb if bumped than non-magnetic pieces.

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

Try this:

• Play with the pieces before using the cards and point out the differences in size, shape, color, etc.
• Put the first piece in place in front of the individual if he cannot look at the picture and figure out where to start. Or say something like "Let's start with the ears".
• Orient and place a piece if the individual is having trouble with orientation. Then pick it up, hand it to the individual, and invite him to place it.
• Hand the individual a piece he will need and ask him to turn it in-hand for the correct placement.
• Use consistent directional and positional language such as above, to the left of, under, flush, etc.
• Find all pieces for the picture ahead of time. Place only those pieces (or even fewer) next to the board if you want to focus on one specific skill at a time, such as spatial orientation. This may decrease frustration from working on too many things at once.
• Practice recognizing shapes from different orientations. Ask the individual to search through all the available pieces to find the ones he needs. Make sure that the pieces are in various positions so that some are facing the wrong direction, some are overlapping, some are upside-down, some are on their sides, etc.
• Correct errors as soon as they are made as continuing to build on incorrect placement may impact the rest of the model.
• Teach the individual to recognize and correct errors. After the individual places a piece incorrectly, ask "Are you sure?" or say "Try again". If he cannot figure out the error, make the correction while he watches. Then pick up the piece and hand it to him to place.
• Give fading prompts as the individual learns to identify errors and correct mistakes on his own.
• Ask the individual to cup his non-dominant hand. If he has trouble doing this, place a small ball in his hand and ask him to curl and lightly squeeze his fingers around the ball. Then remove the ball and ask him to hold his hand in that position. Place several of the pieces he will need in the cupped hand and keep the hand cupped while he places the pieces on the board.
• Work on manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, visual discrimination, visual closure, spatial relations, figure ground, eye-hand coordination, executive functioning skills, process skills, recognition of shapes and shape names, play and leisure exploration and participation
  

In the box: 37 magnet backed wooden blocks, 20 patterns on 10 cards (back-to-back)
Ages 3+, 1+ players

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