Toulouse Lap-Trec Magnetic Sketcher

Product Description

Communicative 4

Skills

• There is only one board and one stylus to help encourage turn taking and sharing.
• Drawing out individual letters, words and simple sentences can practice writing and reading skills.
• Imagination and creativity is used as children create drawings and verbally describe their drawing to others.

Play Ideas

• Write the child’s name on the board and ask them to trace the letters.
• The sketcher can be used in a group setting with children who are learning and practicing letters.  Each child takes a turn writing a letter of the alphabet then passes the sketcher to the next child.  That child writes the next alphabet letter and passes it to the next child and so on.
• Use the board with a play kitchen. Children can write down or draw what they are selling in their restaurant and how much each item is.

Adaptation Ideas

• Use the Sketcher as a simple communication board for children to write down their wants or needs.
• Remove the four individual stampers if they are a distraction for the child.

Sensory 3

Skills

• The pattern fabric on the cushioned back is visually stimulating.
• Visual attention is heightened by the dark-framed drawing surface. Note: To make the magnetic drawings more visible, completely “color” the entire drawing surface and erase several times prior to giving it to a child to draw on. This helps prime the drawing surface.
• Eye-hand coordination is practiced as children draw on the board with the stylus and stamp with the stampers. 

Play Ideas

• For enhanced sensory stimulation, use the animal stampers to make imprints in your own play dough.
• Have the child sit, kneel or stand to play to strengthen muscles.   
• Have a child try to hold the stylus with feet (between the toes) and draw.

Adaptation Ideas

• Add different textures to each of the animal stampers.
• Place the Sketcher on non-skid shelf liner so it does not slide out of reach.

Physical 3

Skills

• Encourage two-handed play by having the child use a magnetic stamper in each hand simultaneously.
• The attached stylus can be used to learn the tripod grasp for writing.
• Crossing midline can be encouraged as children draw one continuous line from left to right on the Sketcher.

Play Ideas

• Children can practice different drawing patterns (lines, waves, dots, etc).
• Have the child imitate vertical, circular, diagonal, and horizontal strokes.  This will encourage grasping, reaching, and crossing midline.
• Have the child sit, kneel or stand to play to strengthen muscles.        

Adaptation Ideas

• Place the Sketcher on a child’s weaker side to encourage him to use and strengthen that side.
• Place a piece of Velcro on each of the stampers. Then have a child wear a knit glove or mitten. The Velcro will stick to the mitten and help a child, who may not have the physical ability to grasp, to successfully use the stampers on the Sketcher.
• Place a short cord around the handle of the Sketcher and attach it to a child’s wheelchair. This will help keep the Sketcher within reach of a child. Note: This modification requires direct caregiver supervision. The cord should be no longer than 10” in length.