Do kids play cards anymore? New solitaire games to try

Pocket Full of Therapy: Time to unplug and play the old fashioned way - with cards! Playing cards offer an opportunity to address so many skills: from hand motor skills, to cognitive, perceptual, organizational and of course social. It all depends on how you chose to use this versatile piece of equipment.  Today we are going to review 2 solitaire games that can be used to practice motor skills. Most of us learned to first play clock face then basic solitaire (Klondike). They are great games that rely on luck. There are many YouTube videos that can refresh your memory of clock face. Two, lesser known solitaire games are: Monte Carlo and Accordion.   Monte Carlo: OVERVIEW: Move all cards to the discard pile by matching pairs.  SET  UP: After shuffling, deal - face up, a row of 5 cards. Repeat 4x so there are 5 rows of 5 cards. (Remember to focus on proper card handling techniques and keeping rows/columns neat and organized) PLAY: Scan the layout for matching numbers (ignore suits/color). A match may be removed to the discard pile, IF they are next to each other, side by side; up/down OR they are diagonal to each other. After finding all pairs in the layout, carefully realign the remaining cards on the grid by moving them up and to the left to fill in the empty spaces. Be careful to keep the order and do not shuffle. New cards are then dealt to the bottom as needed. Repeat until all the possible matches are found. Accordion: Overview: leave as few cards as possible by matching suit or number in a stack.  PLAY: deal 4 cards face up in a row. Look at the fourth card dealt. If it matches the third card (either suit or number) stack it on top. If not, count back 3 positions and see if it matches this card. Stack it on top if it does. Now look at the new card that is last and do the same. Deal one card at the end of the row and look again for matches. As cards get moved around and added to the end of the row remember to review the whole row each time. Continue until all matches are found. How many do you have left? Variation: Make this a hand held game, that can be played anywhere. Hold the whole deck of cards in one hand - face up. Carefully fan out the top four cards and look for your matches. As you remove cards place them face down at the back of the stack. Continue revealing cards as you go until the stack is done.               SET CARD GAME:   A great game to focus on attributes and not perfect matches. Race to find as many SETs as you can-the player with the most SETs at the end of the game wins!  Players do not take turns but pick up 'Sets' as soon as they see them. A player must call 'Set' before picking up the cards. After a player has called 'Set', no other player can pick up cards until the first player is finished. If a player calls 'Set' and does not have one, the player loses one point.  Four Attributes to focus upon and match: Color, Shape, Filling, Number of objects So: 3 diamond shapes (regardless of color) are a set; 3 purple cards (regardless of shapes); 3 cards filled with stripes match; 3 cards with only one object are a match, etc.  This is a deck of cards that are unusual and the game can be structured as needed for each client.  Click here for more info: Copyright © 2022 Pocket Full of Therapy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Pocket Full of Therapy 337 State Route 36 Port Monmouth, NJ 07758-1367 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Balloon activities for all ages; groups, pairs or individual sessions

13 activity ideas most with just a balloon!

Balloons!  Your secret, kid-friendly, versatile, inexpensive and under-estimated piece of equipment. They can be used to address visual-tracking, depth perception, eye-hand coordination, modulation of force, integration of both sides of the body with crossing midline, cooperative play, and bilateral motor coordination to name a few uses. Basic balloon activities (Great for any age client, in groups, pairs or individual sessions)  Work on control. Hits or taps must be consistent, even in height and force. Count how long can you keep the balloon up without it touching the floor, walls or ceiling.   Use only 1 hand. Tuck one hand into a pocket and only use the free hand, forcing crossing midline. Switch hands. Alternate hands for each tap. Then do 2 taps with the right, then 2 with the left, continue until drops. Play with a partner and take turns hitting the balloon straight up in the air. Repeat trying to hit it across to your partner. Make a simple racket with paper plates and complete all above activities. Have players decorate balloons with letters, numbers, and shapes in different colors. Ask players to call out a decoration that they see before hitting the balloon (ie "Red A") Create a path on the table or floor. Ask players to blow their balloon along the path to a finish line. Use several paths for competitive fun if more than one player. Use a straw for hygiene and to carefully direct the balloon. Group ideas Play balloon volleyball. As a team get the balloon over a net or designated line using only 3 hits. If needed give each player a large piece of paper to stand on as a place marker to keep players organized. Put players in a circle (use place markers). Hit up a balloon and call a students name. They must run in and keep hitting it up until they an call the name of the next player. They join the player in the middle of the circle. You can have the first player return to their space or stay in the middle to help keep the balloon from hitting the floor. Fill the balloons with water for outside, wet fun. Stand apart from each other and gently toss and catch. Can be in pairs or across a circle. Use a beach towel or small blanket to catch and toss the ballon with a partner. Products you may like:        - Swingball: tether ball on the go - Rainbow Pebbles: a stacking design copy game. - Supercatch: a sturdy Velcro Set Find Out More Copyright © 2021 Pocket Full of Therapy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Pocket Full of Therapy 337 State Route 36 Port Monmouth, NJ 07758-1367 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Infinity Loop Activities: Why & How to use them?

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward Pocket Full of Therapy The Infinity Loop Track Game This addicting toy presents quite a challenge. The two colored, 13-in. plastic figure 8, opens and closes to form an infinity looping track. When opened and closed with smooth appropriately timed movements, a ball placed in the track will keep on rolling. How long can you loop? Facilitates upper extremity stability, quick reflexes, concentration, balance, visual tracking and a good time! Multi-Matrix Game Multi-Matrix is really a tool, that can be used as a game. It basically is sets of specialty dice and blocks. How you use them for different challenges & skill development is where they become a tool. For example: Place the colored blocks down in a row, beginning left, cross midline, continue right. Now place numbered dice on top in random order leaving the 1st block empty. The player must now locate #1 and carefully place it on the 1st block. Next scan to find #2. Replace the die on block 2 and put that die on the empty block. Continue crossing midline to scan, place and replace until complete. Set comes with unlimited access to tutorial activity video's. Zip It Pouches Have you Zipped It yet? No yet? OMG! They are the coolest thing since... since... They are Way Cool! These patented colorful "bags" are made from 1 long zipper. Yup- 1 real zipper, that really unzips all the way down to nothing! Unzip all or only part -it is up to you. They are designed to open and close to hold your "stuff". What a fun way to sneak in bilateral skills while storing therapy supplies like pegs, crayons, scissors or other games. Assorted size and colors. Manufacturer has a Lifetime guarantee on each. So think holidays & go ahead & Zip-It! The Infinity Loop: Why and How To Use It? What is the infinity loop and how can we use it with our children?   - As you can see to the right, the inifinity loop is a continuous track that can be used to help your children with midline crossing.   - Start in the middle and drag your finger up, around, down, across the middle, then up, around and back.  Try not to lift your finger the whole time.   - Crossing mildine is so important in establishing a hand domaince, fine motor activities, reading, copying, wrting, and almost everything in everyday life!  (Rainbow Ribbons) Activities Using An Infinity Loop: You can make the infinity loop activity as simple as tracing on paper or as elaborate as driving a toy car through one on the floor.   ​1.  Draw rainbow loops:  Draw a large Infinity Loop on paper and have your child trace it over and over again using different colored markers, crayons or pencils!  Start in the middle and move around the loop without lifting pencil or marker.  ​2. Stand up:  Use your write and wipe board to draw a really large infinity loop.  Standing in front of the board, your child now has to trace the loop with large motor movements. Try drawing one, then ask the student to draw one just outside your lines. Next, use a small eraser as a reason to trace the lines again.  ​3.  Use tape to make an infinity loop on the floor, as large as you can.  You can use this as part of an obstacle course and have your child walk on it, or drive a toy car or truck over it.   ​4.  For a more sensory experience, have your child draw an infinity loop in sand or salt.  Place a colored paper underneath it so they have a visual as they trace.   ​5.  Can you and your child make an infinity loop out of play dough or putty?   6. ​ Use Rainbow Ribbon's or streamers to practice loops in the air.  As you complete your infinity loop, have your child do it in reverse; Remember to practice with both hands and do it in the vertical and diagonal positions as well!  Weekly Special: Trace-the-8's Place an order for Trace the 8's and receive 10% off!! Order by Monday 10/29 to receive your discount! What is TRACE-THE-8's?  Graduated & Laminated Infinity loops! A fun and engaging activity designed to be used with children or adults. It works on ocular-motor skills, midline crossing, laterality, eye-hand coordination and brain integration. This classic therapeutic activity has been totally re-imagined, wildly expanding its therapeutic range! Set includes: 10 fully laminated charts of increasing complexity, 2 dry erase markers and an eraser. Charts are meant to be used in a variety of ways and in various positions and orientations. Also comes with an Info Sheet outlining how to use, skills addressed, suggested variations, care and maintenance. The most basic pattern of tracing starts with the marker at the center point of the smallest figure, moving up and to the left, following along until the entire figure 8 has been traced. Continue working, one by one, out until the largest figure 8 is traced. It is intended to be done slowly, fluidly and with a fair amount of accuracy. If needed start the tracing with only a finger. Enter coupon code: infinity at checkout for 10% off! You're receiving this because you subscribed or placed an order with Pocket Full of Therapy. We will NEVER share or sell your info. Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe Contact Us: (800) PFOT-124 (732) 462-4474 *An OT is always available to answer questions or assist in selecting the right item!