Rainbow River Stones

Product Description

Sensory 4

Skills

• Visual and tactile discrimination skills are used to match the three different patterns.
• The River Stones provide tactile kinesthetic movement to help develop motor and cognitive skills.
• Children can gain an understanding of similarities and differences by visual and tactile means.

Play Ideas

• Take off shoes and socks to feel more stimulation. This also assists in stability and safety.
• Have a child close his eyes, then hand him one River Stone. Ask him to describe it by touch. This helps work on tactile awareness, attention to detail, and sensory discrimination.

Physical 4

Skills

• Balance, weight shifting and reciprocal leg movements are used to walk across the River Stones.
• Gross motor skills, strength and coordination are targeted.
• Children can gain practice in estimating distances and visual perception as they step on the River Stones.

Play Ideas

• Place the River Stones close together. Gradually move them farther apart to encourage large steps.
• Turn the River Stones over and try to throw your own bean bags, balls or stuffed animals in each. This can work on eye-hand coordination and appropriate timed release of objects.
• Play “follow the leader” with one child jumping from one stone to the next and the others following his pattern.

Social/Emotional 4

Skills

• Parallel play and cooperative play can be encouraged as children play with the River Stones.
• Role modeling can take place as kids mimic their peers actions. 
• Self-esteem and confidence can be promoted as kids successfully walk across the River Stones. 

Play Ideas

• Have two children each hold a River Stone, bottom facing out. Have the children take turns throwing a soft ball, bean bag or small stuffed animal into the other’s River Stone.
• Pretend there is an alligator pond and the children have to cross it without going in the “water” by stepping on each River Stone. Draw a river with chalk on pavement to help visualize the pretend play.
• Play “follow the leader” with one child jumping from one stone to the next and the others following his pattern.

Adaptation Ideas

• For children who are easily over-stimulated, use only one or two River Stones to begin with. Gradually increase the number as the children’s ability and frustration levels permit.
• Have children take turns walking across the River Stones if a child is over stimulated by sharing space.