19 Feb scrabble junior
SCRABBLE JUNIOR
SCRABBLE JUNIOR
Tonina Llull
Although Durability is disappointing, with the suggested work around it is an excellent game to foster ocular motor skills, visual information processing, fine motor skills, augment reading and writing curriculum, leisure, socialization, and fun!
Meets Expectations
Durability
Versatility
Engagement
The Essentials
As an avid family Scrabble player since childhood, I was happy to trial this game for the clinical setting. This updated version has two levels built- in to one (1) double sided board. The strategy and game pieces incorporated for advancing a child from matching, pre-reading/reading skills to creating their own words is effective.
On the entry level side, Scrabble concepts are introduced via a crossword like template, the words/letters they need to match are large and the board is colorful and interesting to look at – without being excessive, if the child is not overly stimulated by mild-moderate visual stimulation.
Though I prefer the wooden pieces, the cardboard letter pieces used in this game are durable enough and easily manipulated, if a child has age appropriate hand skills. After matching a word, players move their game character along a numbered border to keep track of their points. Points are tallied by moving a game token (cute word character) from the Starting line on the border every time a player completes a word – I find this useful to facilitate learning to manage small game pieces, move them one space at a time while counting and timed release, as well as turn taking. When all of the tiles have used, the player who advanced the furthest (earned the most points) wins. ***Be aware that these pieces are small enough to be a choking hazard.
When your patient/client is ready to create their own words, you flip the board over to use the advanced level – this game does accommodate your patients/clients as they become more skilled. Further, the board, pieces required, and rules are altered easily when considering position, grading the visual and ocular challenges, allotting for more movement during play, and the need for a partner during play, etc.
Fun Factor
Parents report enjoying playing this game with their children — watching them build their letter recognition, turn taking, point counting, and pre-reading & reading skills is very satisfying to them. I support the use of this game for older children and teens who have deficits in the skills set necessary to play Scrabble, because it falls within socially appropriate perimeters when playing with peers.
Set-Up and Clean-Up
The ability to set-up, clean-up, and store this game is easy if you provide ziploc bags for the letter “tiles” and if you are very careful with folding the board – it requires two folds. These creases in the board are the problem with respect to durability. The board is easily torn at these “seams” secondary to wear-and-tear at the creases – it does not take long to partially tear the board.
The IF-THEN’S and the BUT’S
Although Durability is disappointing, with the suggested work around it is an excellent game to foster ocular motor skills, visual information processing, fine motor skills, augment reading and writing curriculum, leisure, socialization, and fun!
If you want the board to last, consider reinforcing the creases of the board with clear mailing tape. This strategy has worked well for me. If your child has a tendency to place small objects into his/her mouth – you may consider waiting on this game until that behavior is mitigated or play with close proximity and high vigilance – I prefer to have the parent in the session playing the game across from the child, while I facilitate the game play and safety in these cases especially. The packaging does indicate: WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. In addition it indicates — Adult assembly required, I believe this is aimed to have adults unfold and refold the game board, in an attempt to avoid it being torn at the seams.
HOW TO AUGMENT THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT
Depending on the toy or game, as therapists and educators, it is typical that we vary the way we use the game and its components to facilitate underlying skills that may be required to play the game for children who are differently abled.
We can increase general learning and target specific learning areas, further enhance creativity and imagination, foster problem solving and memory, target additional physical (gross and fine motor) skills, social skills, communication; and foster sensory processing and modulation.
Through activity analysis, we learn how to maximize the use of the toys and games we use with our clients/students/patients. Here you will find some suggestions that may help you maximize the versatility in every product.
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