Bristle Block Spinaroos

Product Description

Sensory 4

Skills

• Visual spatial skills are used when building with blocks.
• Tactile exploration can take place with these blocks.
• Precision skills can be enhanced as children build a structure and add pieces to that structure.

Play Ideas

• Play “hot potato” with one of the blocks. This may help children who are tactilely defensive touch a block briefly. For children who have difficulty with the texture of the blocks, have them wear a glove or mitten.
• The blocks float in water. Use them as rafts or boats for small play figures.
• Have the child close his eyes and then give him a block to explore by touch. Then by feel alone, have him find a block that is the same shape as the one presented.

Adaptation Ideas

• Use a light or dark solid color surface to build upon. This will help heighten the visual contrast of the blocks.

Physical 4

Skills

• Eye-hand coordination is used to pick up each block and connect it to others.
• Bi-lateral coordination is used to hold a block in each hand and connect them or pull them apart. It is also used to stabilize a structure with one hand and add to it with the other.
• Finger and hand control is exercised when putting the blocks together and pulling them apart.

Play Ideas

• Have the child help build a wall using the Bristle Blocks. Then using a small car, count to three and knock the wall down. To repeat, a child must rebuild the wall, increasing manual skills in the process.
• Place three tall blocks standing on end on the large base plate. Have the child reach out and knock them down. This works on reaching and eye-hand coordination.
• Connect several pieces together and hand them to the child to pull apart. This can be made easier by connecting only a small segment of the bristles on the blocks or made more difficult by connecting all the bristles on each of the blocks. This activity helps children use and strengthen the muscles in their hands, arms and upper body.

Adaptation Ideas

• Place the blocks in a shallow box lid or cookie sheet with a lip to make sure blocks remain within reach of a child during play.
• Place the blocks on non-slip material such as shelf liner to prevent them from sliding away from a child during play.

Cognitive 4

Skills

• AB patterning can be practiced by placing different colors or sizes in reoccurring patterns—such as, pink, orange, pink, orange. This helps children gain the fundamentals of order, sequencing and prediction.
• Grouping and sorting by colors or size help children with early analysis and comparison skills.
• Imagination is used when building and playing. This helps children learn how to think creatively and problem solve uniquely.

Play Ideas

• Using the blocks, have children create different letters in the alphabet.
• Give the child blocks one by one to drop into the plastic storage bin. Count as each block is placed inside. Move the storage bin closer or farther away to accommodate a child’s individual abilities.
• Ask a child to sort or line up the blocks by color, shape or size.

Adaptation Ideas

• Limit the number of blocks presented to a child. Gradually increase that number as a child’s abilities and frustration levels permit.