Linkits

Product Description

Cognitive 4

Skills

• Linkits promotes the development of part-to-whole relationship understanding as player constructs objects and sculptures out of distinct pieces.
• Linkits promotes the development of sequential thought processing as player arranges and assembles distinct pieces in order to create a “whole” object or sculpture.
• Linkits promotes the development of creative and imaginative play as player uses the distinct pieces to creates a physical representation of his / her ideas and use in subsequent play.

Play Ideas

• To promote the development of sequential thought processing skills, facilitator will direct player to build a monster / dinosaur or other creature of interest and document each step of the building process (write, illustrate, or photograph).
• To promote development of sorting and matching skills, provide player with buckets or other containers that match the colors of the Linkit pieces and place non-matching colored pieces in each container. Facilitator will challenge the player to sort the pieces into the containers which colors match them during a limited amount of time.  
• To promote imaginative play, a facilitator will instruct player to build a Linkits imaginary village to utilize with his / her toy vehicles, objects found “around town”, and toy figurines. Encourage player to use the Linkits to build roads, parks, buildings (fire station, school, store), or other landmarks. Player or facilitator can utilize paper and markers to create signage for buildings and road markers.

Adaptation Ideas

• Facilitator can provide player with patterns of objects on top of which a player can lay down Linkit pieces on top of to create a 2D picture.
• Facilitator can model how to connect Linkit pieces and encourage player to mimic him / her using the same pieces.
• Facilitator can provide player with step-by-step written or visual instructions as to how to create recognizable objects using the Linkits. The instructions should include a list or image of all the pieces needed to assemble the object.

Sensory 4

Skills

• Linkits promotes visual perception skills by visually distinguishing between individual pieces and their relationship to one another to create a 2D or 3D object.
• Linkits promotes the development of the proprioceptive system as the player uses his / her hands and arms, or feet and legs, as well as body weight to press and pull the foam Linkits pieces to connect and disconnect them from one another.
• Linkits promotes tactile system development as the player handles, manipulates and applies pressure to the various foam pieces.

Play Ideas

• To promote visual perception skills, provide player with color 2D patterns of familiar objects (such as flower, train, pinwheel, and butterfly) that are created with the circular Linkits pieces. Instruct the player to copy the pattern with the Linkits pieces, either on top of the pattern or next to it.
• To promote auditory attention skills, play a game of auditory Color-By- Numbers. Provide player with a black and white 2D pattern of familiar objects (such as a car, flower, tree) that are created with the circular and oblong Linkits pieces; within each outlined piece is a number. The facilitator will call out a color and the type of Linkit piece for the player to select as well as a number where the piece should be placed.
• To promote tactile discrimination skills, place a sampling of the three types of Linkits pieces in two large, opaque containers or bins and place above eye level. Facilitator will instruct the player to select a piece from one container and find a matching piece in the other container using only his / her hands. 

Adaptation Ideas

• For players with low vision or vison impairments, use puffy paint or Elmer’s glue to draw on the Linkits piece the first letter of the color of that piece. Additionally, utilize a deep bin to store pieces, and a shallow one in which to build creations in order to foster a more controlled and fail-free environment and successful play experience.

Physical 3

Skills

• Linkits promotes hand grasp and strengthening as the player grips and manipulates each Linkit piece to join it to others.
• Linkits promotes two-handed play as the player engages both hands to join the various pieces together.
• Linkits promotes wrist rotation development as the player twists the circular pieces into the Linkits with holes to construct his / her creation.

Play Ideas

• To promote hand and wrist strengthening, facilitator will encourage player to use the circular Linkits to stamp into wet sand or other impressionable materials to create a pattern or illustration.
• To promote reaching and arm extension, instruct player to build a Linkits tower from a seated position, and remain seated throughout the process. The facilitator will encourage the player to build tall and wide to promote reach and arm extension along several planes.  
• To promote the development of range of motion, instruct player to grab pieces from facilitator at different heights and distances in front of and behind player while seated in place. Player will place and place in facilitator- or peer-held basket below or above his / her eye level.

Adaptation Ideas

• To assist players with grip weakness or smaller hands, facilitator can offer hand-over-hand assistance to connect Linkit pieces.
• To create a more stable base upon which to build upward, attach form fitting Velcro to the Linkit pieces that will player will attach to a building surface.