Imagination Patterns

Create images from pattern cards using wooden, magnetic pieces.

Two words described my reaction today as I opened the wooden carrying case and examined the contents on my newest game - very disappointed. I ordered this because I own the original set called Imaginets and have used it a lot. I have had this Imagination Patterns set on my wish list for quite awhile, and finally broke down and bought it.

If I had paid more attention to the images on the front of the box (above), I would have noticed that the elephant and helicopter are both images that are included in the Imaginets set. But I didn't really give it any thought. So when I opened the package of cards for this new set and found that over half of them were repeats of images found in the Imaginets set, I was, as I mentioned, very disappointed. 

The reason it was on my wish list so long was because this set costs over $30. I think long and hard about paying that much for one item, but the Imaginets set has been such a hit with the kids, and a very useful tool across ages and abilities, that I thought it was worth the investment. Maybe it is just me, but when I pay that much, I would have expected all new images to work with.

Now that that is off my chest, I will point out a few more differences between the two sets and then write a little about how you can use it. Both sets have 5 vibrant colors of wood pieces. Pieces are the same shape and size in both sets. The imagination Patterns set has light orange pieces instead of the original yellow. This new set also has 11 pieces with patterns, including stripes, swirls, stars, and checkers. The rest of the pieces are solid colors.

With this set you can create models from 2D picture cards using a variety of wooden, brightly colored, pieces of a variety of shapes. The wooden pieces have a magnetic layer on the back and stick to the white board quite securely. You can set the board up on its side and the pieces will not slip or fall off. The white board can also be drawn on with a dry erase marker, according to the manufacturer, but I have not tried it. Therefore, I don't know if it leaves a shadow once erased or not, but I have found Bic erasable markers do, so I steer clear of them. 

The challenge cards are numbered 1-50 (small numbers in the bottom corner) and increase in difficulty as the numbers go up. 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 magnetic pieces, once laid, are harder to disturb if bumped than non-magnetic pieces.

For more activity of this type, check out my blog 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 trunk".
• 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 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, visual form constancy, spatial relations, figure ground, eye-hand coordination, executive functioning skills, recognition of shapes and colors, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
  

  In the wooden carrying case: 43 wood blocks, 25 double-sided pattern cards (50 designs) 

Ages 3+, 1+ players 

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



The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse - A unique coloring game.

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse is a coloring game, a first of its kind for me. Whether you use markers, colored pencils, or crayons, coloring is an activity that many kids like and that is great for helping develop fine motor and general hand skills. It's also a way to get a writing tool into the hands of reluctant writers. I've passed out many a color book and box of crayons in my day. Unfortunately, they are not making color books like they used to. If you go to Walmart, a color book is likely to cost you $6. The dollar store still carries them but they are called activity books, and half of the pages are devoted to puzzles, mazes, and the like. 

 
The object of The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, according to the box, is to "explore the painter's color palette in this cooperative game of self-expression." My ideas are quite different, but as we know, one game can work on many different skills. 

This game comes with very simple drawings of several different animals (lion, bear, fox, crocodile, horse, donkey, cow) on plain white paper. Pictures are L 5" x W 2 3/4" and each animal is divided into four sections.

LEFT - Spinner.                         RIGHT - Game Board.

 

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse also includes a spinner with a free moving arrow. I will list what each space on the spinner means in the rules below. There is also a game board with 26 spaces.

Object: 

Complete a masterpiece by coloring a picture.

Set up: 

Place the game board, spinner, and coloring implements in the middle of the table. Place a pawn on start (see board in image below).

Play: 

In turn, each player will spin the spinner. The options that may come up are as follows:

• 1-4 - Move the pawn ahead on the board the number of spaces indicated. Everyone colors one section of his animal with the color indicated on the space.
• Any color X 2 - The person who is spinning chooses two colors that all players will use to color a section of their animal.
• Trade animals - Players trade their unfinished pictures and end up working on other's masterpieces.

The game ends when all sections of the animals are colored and everyone enjoys all the masterpieces.

If you would like to read more about games that require writing or drawing in some form, check out my post Games That Require a Writing Tool.  

Try this:

• Use pencils instead of the included crayons.
• Use your own pictures or coloring books for more variety, a longer game, and to customize the skill level or subject of interest to your individual color-er.
• Follow the path on the game board with your eyes and touch each color as you name it. Do this before the game to familiarize yourself with the colors.
• Tape the animals in a long line on the wall as you finish coloring them. Make a parade of animals for everyone to enjoy. A good chance to practice using a tape dispenser. Make up a story about what is happening with the animals.
• Lay the crayons on the table upside down so that when an individual picks one up, he will have the opportunity to rotate and shift in-hand for correct placement for coloring.
• Practice flicking the arrow with different fingers to thumb. Look for the big circle in the web space before flicking.
• Practice distal rotation by coloring in the animals using small circular motions. I call it giving the animal "curly fur".
• Enlarge the pictures on a copy machine if the individual cannot color precisely enough for this size. Then reduce the picture incrementally until they can.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual closure, eye-hand coordination, fine motor precision, dynamic grasp, finger isolation, separation of two sides of the hand, coordinated use of both hands, thumb to finger, developing web space, coloring, manual dexterity, executive functioning skills, social interaction skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: Game board, spinner, 4 pawns, 144 sheets animal coloring pad, 8 crayons

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