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.

Magnetic Mosaic KIDS

Magnetic Mosaic Kids

Another winner from The Orb Factory, Magnetic Mosaic Kids is the next step up from the beginners Magnetic Mosaics - My First Picture Maker. With 20 patterns, it will keep you busy for a long time.

The white pattern sheets are large, about 11" X 16" and the squares on the pictures use numbers only, no symbols or alphabet like My First Picture Maker. The easel is 11.5" X 16.5" and comes with a stand. The stand is cardboard and you have to be careful not to bump it as it is easy to upset. A stabilizing hand may be useful here, depending on how steady your placement hand is. The cubes are colored foam with a thin magnet on one side, and don't have any stickers on them to fall off.  There are exactly enough pieces of certain colors to complete some of the pictures, so don't lose any. 

Since the 20 pattern sheets are only black and white, it will require you to look at the color key (see bottom left of the box above). The color key is also printed on a sheet that is included in the box. Pictures on the sheets include a person kicking a soccer ball, a giraffe, a birthday cake, a seahorse, and a truck. There is a sheet that shows all the pictures completed, so it is easy to pick out from that sheet which one you want to work on.

The kids and I have both liked this activity. Prepare to spend a whole session on one picture, or bring it out over several sessions to finish one picture. Once the pieces are placed on the board, you can easily re-box it and bring it out later without any pieces slipping off as they stick well.

Try this:

• Place the magnetic pieces upside down or in a jumbled pile.  Require the individual to pick up one piece at a time and use in-hand manipulation to get it into the correct position for placement.
• Pick a number and ask the individual to cover all of some of that number. Then pick another number.
• Ask the individual to support the board with the non-dominant hand and pick up and manipulate in-hand each piece with the dominant hand.
• Ask the individual to pick a color and cover all of those color before moving to another color.
• Practice reading the color key by just pointing to numbers on a design sheet and having the individual consult the key and tell you what color would be used for each one.
• Cup the non-dominant hand and drop the pieces in one at a time when picking them up to put the activity away. How many can you hold? Go again and try for one more. Or grab the pieces up by the handfuls when putting them away.
• Ask the individual to make one element of a picture at a time. For instance, in the image above, ask them to make the tree first. Can they separate it out from the rest of the picture?
• Work on fine motor precision, in-hand manipulation, using a stabilizing hand, manual dexterity, palmar arch development, web space development, grasp, separating the two sides of the hand, visual discrimination, visual closure, figure ground, process skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 20 black and white design sheets, easel with magnetic board, over 600 magnetic foam cubes

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