Hats Off!

 

 

I like using games with launchers with kids that need frequent reminders to use a stabilizing hand. It emphasizes the necessity of using both hands in a coordinated manner, and you can practice it over and over in a short period of time. You also need to use finger isolation with graded pressure while aiming for a target. Lots of good stuff. Another launcher game I like is Connect 4 Launchers.

 

Hats Off! has been popular with kids across a range of abilities. The game comes with a plastic grid/base that is full of holes. It is divided into four colors that match the four hat colors. Each color on the grid has nine holes. Each hat has a small metal ball in the tip that adds weight.

 

 

 

To play, place the grid in the middle of the players. Each player chooses a color and gathers that color launcher and six matching hats. On go, each player loads his launcher by placing one hat on the lever and fires. Everyone launches at the same time, trying to land their colored hats into the same colored section on the grid. Once someone gets all six hats into his colored holes, he yells "Hats Off" and the round ends. Individuals add their scores, depending on where their hats have landed. A game can consist of several rounds with the highest scorer winning.

 

Try this:

• Play alone. Start by trying to just land anywhere on the grid. Then move to aiming for color.
• Demonstrate to show how far the hat will travel if you push the lever all the way down as opposed to pushing it only part way.
• Ask the player to determine if he pushed the lever down too far or not far enough after missed efforts. Then adjust and try again.
• Practice grading different amounts of pressure by pushing the grid away or pulling it closer to the player.
• Place the hats in the grid by color for a simple matching activity.
• Play alone and try to land each piece in it's own color section. After launching them all, add one point for each one in it's matching color. Remove the pieces and play again, trying to better your aim, get more matches and up your score.
• Work on visual discrimination, eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity, graded pressure, fine motor precision, finger isolation, aiming at a target, coordinated use of both hands, social skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: Plastic grid, 4 launchers, 24 hats

Brainlock

In the box: 60 double-sided maze sheets (4 mazes total), 2 pair of perplex-o-specs, 2 pencils, 2 "mirrors"

Save your money. Seriously. The instructions say to put on the glasses to block your vision of your hand and pencil, look at yourself in the "mirror" and watch yourself draw. Everything is backward and it takes concentration and effort to keep within the lines of the maze. There is a reason the word mirrors is in quotes on the box: They aren't really mirrors, just pieces of shiny card stock, and not clear to look at at all. The glasses are light card stock, the mazes are simple and there are only four. I don't say this very often, but I felt totally ripped off on this one.

Construction Sandbox

Change the medium often for exposure to different textures.

Wow, did this sandbox bring back memories : ) My sister and I spent many a beautiful summer day playing in the back yard sandbox of our childhood home. We imagined that sandbox to be all kinds of things from a city block to a bakery. One of my favorite things to do was make sand pies with "bird berries". On occasion my mom would hide pennies in the sand and we would sift through to find every one and then walk to the store to purchase penny candy.

 

The wooden sandbox is sturdy and well made but there is no lid for it. It is filled with ultra-fine sand. You must carry it upright in its cardboard outer box or you will spill the sand. The sand can also be bought separately if you want to add more or change the color. The toys are also included.

 

OR, skip buying this toy and use a box you have around the house. Fill it with dried beans or rice and toys. You've just created a sensory box.

Try this:

• Add your own medium, such as dry beans or pebbles to turn it into a rock quarry, grass to turn it into a dinosaur stomping ground, or dried split peas to turn it into moon rocks. Change the medium and toys often to have a chance to get used to different textures.
  
• Add any number of your own toys to the mix, or change them out completely and fill with other interesting items. Only limited to your imagination.
• Increase the amount of medium (sand, dry rice, dry lentils or split peas) and hide small items to sift through and find.
• Work on sensory processing, in-hand manipulation, manual dexterity, fine motor precision, eye-hand coordination, play and leisure exploration and participation, process skills
  

In the box: Sturdy wooden box, sand, construction toys

 

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

Galt Pop-Up Toy

Pop-Up Toy

In the box: 1 wooden unit, 4 wooden removable characters

Galt Pop-Up Toy is a pretty basic toy: Push down on the head of one of the characters, move your hand away, and he will pop up and out of the base. I came across this toy this week and decided to try it with a young man that is learning to point. All pieces are wooden. The four characters are all the same height, about 3" tall. It does not take much energy to push, but the further you push it down, the higher it will fly when you let go - up to about 8" - 10" inches into the air. He liked it.

Try this:

• Push a character down and try to catch it as it flies out.
• Sort the characters by color into their matching spots.
• Make a point to watch the character as he flies out of the box, tracking him with the eyes.
• Isolate different fingers to push the characters down.
• Start with the pointer on the first character, middle finger on the second, and so on. Model going down the row. Replace and ask the individual to repeat in that order.
• Call one color at a time and ask the individual to press down on that character. 
• Work on finger isolation, manual dexterity, pushing, visual tracking, eye-hand coordination, coordinated use of both hands, catching, attention, motor planning, sequencing, visual discrimination, play exploration and participation
   
  

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