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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.


Aug 16, 2019

Dozen Dice Games

Dozen Dice Games

12 different dice games for two or more players. If you like using dice games to work on hand skills, check out Dozen Dice Games. This one will keep you busy for a while. 

Dozen Dice Games comes with the dice you see in the picture above. The blue dice are numbered 0-9, the red dice 1-6 (pips) and the green dice 1-8. Included is a plastic dice cup that is about 3" tall.

Here are the 12 games:
  • 21! - Roll to 21 without going over, takes one die per person.
  • High Die, High Die, High Die, Ho! - Roll the highest number, 5 rolls per person, 5 dice per person.
  • Chase the Ace! - Be the last person with remaining peanut(s), 2 dice per person.
  • Straight up to 100 - Be the first to score 100 by rolling straights, 6 dice per person.
  • Ship/Captain/Crew - Get the highest score after rolling a ship, a captain and a crew, 5 dice per person.
  • Liar's Dice a.k.a. "That's a Crock" - Bluff your way through a round to win, 2 dice per person.
  • Hacker's Golf - Score the least amount of strokes by rolling doubles in the least amount of tolls, 3 dice per person.
  • Rock Around the Clock - Move your rock around the clock from 1 to 12, 2 dice per person.
  • Sinister Six - Score the highest total of the dice that remain after eliminating those which add up to six, 6 dice per person.
  • Dead Die 96 - Roll the highest total, avoiding a 9 and 6, 5 dice per person.
  • Bean Your Neighbor - Be the first to get rid of your beans, 3 dice per person.
  • Yacht Race - Be the fastest to roll 5 of a kind, 5 dice per person.
Try this:
  • Skip the dice cup and use your hand(s).
  • Place a small ball in the player's palm if they are having trouble cupping the hand to hold the dice. Ask them to cup the hand around the ball and then remove the ball while they keep their fingers cupped. Drop the dice into the palm.
  • Before the first roll of a game, pick up the dice you will need, one at a time, and squirrel them into the palm to hold.
  • Put the dice away by the handful. Cup the hand and drop one die at a time into the hand counting as you go. Can you hold all 17? 
  • Put the dice away by picking up one at a time of the same color and squirreling them into the hand. Can you hold all of one color? Drop them into the tin by handfuls.
  • Eliminate speed, take turns.
In the tin: 17 dice, small dice cup, game booklet with 12 games

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


Aug 8, 2019

Frogs on a Lily Pad



Frogs on a Lily Pad is a simple number recognition and matching game. A very straightforward game to see who can collect the most frogs. Numbers (1-6) appear on the cards and the spinner. Count how many frogs you have at the end to determine the winner.

The cards are laminated and measure 2.5" x 3.5" and are 1/16" thick. There is a large number on one side (1-6) and the other side of the card has a picture of a lily pad and anywhere from zero to three frogs. This combination is not always the same, meaning one 3 card might have two frogs on the other side while another 3 card might have no frogs on the other side. The spinner measures 4" x 4". It pictures number 1-6 and the arrow moves freely.


Object:
Have the most frogs at the end of the game.

Set up:
Place all the cards singly on the playing surface, number side up. This is called the frog pond. Place the spinner nearby.

Play:
Players take turns. On each turn you will spin the spinner and, noting the number it lands on, you will choose a card with that same number from the frog pond. Turn it over to see how many frogs you have collected, say the number out loud. Place the card by you and the next player plays. If there are no cards left to match the number on the spinner, keep spinning until you match a number that is still in the frog pond. When all the cards are gone, count your frogs. The player who caught the most frogs is the winner.

Try this:
  • Sort the cards into piles by number. There are four sets of numbers 1-6.
  • Stack the cards with the frogs face-up. Lift the cards off the pile, one at a time, and sort into four piles by the number of frogs (0-3). Try not to disturb the pile too much as you are lifting the cards.
  • Look for a nice rough O in the webspace as you spin. 
  • Isolate and use different fingers as you flick the spinner.
  • Hold the spinner in one hand while you spin with the other.
  • Give the player a set of six cards (1-6) and ask them to lay them in a line in number order. Or ask them to sequence the cards by placing them in a pile in the pile dominant hand while picking them up with the dominant hand.
  • Take a break from the game to do frog jump animal walks. Place a blue blanket or towel on the floor and jump into it, like a frog jumping off a lily pad into the water.
  • Make simple origami frogs and race them.
In the box: 24 frog cards, spinner

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