A quick Observation Game

In this post we will present to you a simple, fun and beneficial game for children.
You can play the game with random objects or with prepared set of pictures, or with special cards everyone can simply prepare at home.

The cards can be simple (shapes, colors, animals etc.), or more complex. for example:

1. letters and words
2. Numbers, mathematical equation, mathematical equation results.
3. The beginning of a an idiom, known squat etc.
4. Formulas and equations....

You can download our cards in PDF files (Acrobat), 10 A4 Colored pages here, or Black & White file that you can print and color with your kids here.

The game works on various skills, and you can raise the difficulty in different ways.

The instructions are simple:
The parent/teacher stands with the children at the starting point and asks them to bring him "X" The children need to locate a sample of this "X" and bring it to the parent/teacher or to their box/hoop.

A variation of the game can be played when one of the children is the one giving the instructions to his friends/parents/family - thus challenging him to take a lead.

Difficulty levels:

1. Hearing observation - singular, double or triple for example:
   Singular - bring me a red circle (in lower levels you can ask for only a circle/triangle etc.)
   Double - bring me a green turtle (from a group of animals)
   Triple - bring me a pink big horse.
2. Memory observation - for example, bring me a red triangle and a green square.
   Raising the difficulty level - bring me a red circle, yellow turtle and a pink horse.
3. Categorical observation.
4. Observation skills.
5. Response speed
6. Speed - who can run the fastest and collect the objects from the predefined play zone.
7. Focus - listening and perform.
8. With small children - focus them with concentrating all the cards/objects to the instructor, or to each of their boxes or hoops.

You can play this game with 1 child and more - up to the size of a class. You need to match the number of objects/cards/pictures accordingly. In my class each child has a set of cards with letters, numbers etc for different games - personal and group ones.

In my experience, children love this game because it is challenging, fast and interesting. In the social aspect it encourages a healthy competition or a collaboration against the instructor in teamwork, if they all decide to collect everything as a team and help each other.

In the educational-teaching aspect this is an excellent game for creating a flow and practicing and memorizing a recently studied material in a fun way.

For example: recognizing letters, the construction of a word or a phrase, recognizing numbers etc.

The game can be played with children in various ages.

Attached for your convenience you can find 2 PDF files with optional cards in our public Drive.

Do you have questions? Comments?
We will be happy to hear them, here, our facebook page, twitter, or ourYoutube channel.
You can tag your instagram photos with #Togiletsplay

All the posts and materials belongs to togi let's play, and the writer © 

Playing catch and self esteem

Playing catch with a ball demand motor skills:

1. eye hand coordination.
2. power adjustment.
3. catching with hands/ legs/ accessories.
4. coordination (basic or complex).

social skills:
1. willingness to play with others.
2. sharing
3. plying with friend/ friends

emotional skills:
1. diligence.
2. don't being frustrated.
3. self confidence.

Children who succeed catching and throwing a ball are exited and full of pride, while playing football or catching. the excitement is most highly to toddlers (up to 4-5 years old), but recognized in any new game, with special balls, and after sequence of no success, if happened.

The skill of catching and throwing is building gradually from very young age while rolling ball to a baby and improving the eye- tracking, the eye- hand motor, touching the ball and eventually rolling it back.
The ability to catch and throw different sized balls in games and real life, and being afraid of "not catching" might cause anxiety. we wrote is another post on gender equality and it's connection to motor skills- those are important once.

Here are five catching games that work on all the skills and increasing self esteem :)

1. Rolling balls at different sizes from one to another-
   start with big ball (to toddlers) and change the sizes.
   you can play with two balls- roll two with both hands, or roll in the same time.

2. Playing catch (soft ball in the beginning)- slowly increasing the space between and players.
   you can also play standing on one led (from age 5), in movement (from age 4).

3. Kicking- great for power adjustment, from age 2-2.5.
4. Throwing a ball while catching it with an object/ tool-
   using box, basket, bag or etc.
   It is a fun game that improves eye- hand coordination and movement planning.
5. Touch and throw, with no catching- you can play with balloons, balls, beans bags (above 6 you can use a hoop).
   The aim it to leave the ball/ balloon in the air.
   you can count up to 10/21/30 with no falls.
   The game demand high precision.

* You can challenge the children - standing on a firm bench or togo.

Enjoy :)

- Remember to fit the difficulty levels to the age and abilities of the children.
- you can play all the games also in groups.

   
Do you have questions? Comments?
We will be happy to hear them, here, our facebook page, twitter, or ourYoutube channel.
You can tag your instagram photos with #Togiletsplay


All the responsibility is on the parent and/ or educator.

All the posts and materials belongs to togi let's play, and the writer © 

Air balloons games

We are happy to introduce you to a game with 8 difficulties levels.

Balloons are accessible, cheap, light weighted and fun. Even adults enjoy playing with balloons (soap bubbles, for example).

I always keep balloons at home and in the stroller. I also keep them in my classroom, because they are perfect for playing with my pupils when we need a break, when I want to raise their energy, and when I want to exercise specific materials, or just for fun in the middle of day.

Age The games are suitable to all ages, starting from the moment toddlers can walk, given each age and developing stage it's own adjustments.

Remember, the aim is fun with added value of:

1. Eye-hand coordination.
2. Response speed.
3. Coordination.
4. In some stages we also work on collaboration and understanding instructions.

Participants The games can fit to parent-s and one child or more, and up to a teacher with a class.

Time from 5 to 20 minutes.

Accessories balloons.

Aim The balloon must stay in the air J

Difficulty levels:

1. Everyone keeps their balloon in the air; they can do it with the help of different body parts. Everyone keeps their balloon in the air but only with one body part- only hands/knees/shoulders/feet etc. The instructor or the players can determine which one body part to use and then change it after a few minutes.Playing catch with the entire group with 1 balloon- up to 21 catches.
2. Playing catch with the entire group with an identical number of balloons as number of the players.
3. Playing catch with several balloons, while every player can touch a balloon only once.
4. Every player has his / hers own area, balloons shouldn’t fall there. If a balloon falls the player is disqualified.
5. Group game- the last one who touched a balloon and didn't keep it in the air is disqualified.
6. Free play J

 Short video about Air balloons games in Togi youtube channel:

ENJOY :)

Do you have questions? Comments?
We will be happy to hear them, here, our facebook page, twitter, or our Youtube channel.
You can tag your instagram photos with #Togiletsplay
Or visit our Indiegogo Campaign for contributions.
:)

written by Sharon Ramon

All the posts and materials belongs to togi let's play, and the writer ©