26 Jun Win Big with Mini Travel Games
Vacation time is here, and it’s a great time to win big with mini travel games. We have all heard the phrase that “good things come in small packages.” It can be overused, but it rings true when you are limited with space or budget. As a therapist, I am always looking around for new games to use in treatment sessions to that serve multiple purposes. With miniature-sized games, I score with both improving fine motor skills and attracting a child’s attention.
Small Pieces Equal Major Bonus
Working with small children, I am usually looking for things for the tips of tiny fingers to hold. Travel games often come in handy because they are easy to store and come with smaller pieces. Really small pieces, the kind of pieces occupational therapists daydream about encountering. They are coveted because we can be more creative in our activities to improve grasping and coordination skills. With small pieces we don’t have to deal with the bulkiness of regular-sized games and all their parts. These skills are important as child get older and have to manage other skills. Examples include opening candy wrappers and water bottles, spraying deodorant cans, and learning how to clip their nails.
Novelty is a Nicety
Another added benefit is that children find mini travel games to be fun just because they are cute and different. Just like when children are wowed by a giant object at an amusement park or museum, children are also equally amused by the size of tiny parts to a game. Most games come in bigger pieces to make things easy for children, but small pieces can be just as fun.
Many classic games such as Connect Four®, checkers, chess, dominoes, Battleship®, Scrabble®, and Yahtzee® come in small travel sizes, and there is no rule saying that you have to be going somewhere off the beaten path to use them in your everyday life. You can even sometimes find them in sets of up to 6 games for one low price or individually as cheap as $1 in discount stores. It is important to note that you should still be careful to keep small pieces away from children that still try to eat things they should not. So pick up one today and win your child over with mini travel games. I hope you find this tip helpful. Have a playful day!
Amy Baez, MOT, OTR/L
Amy Baez is the Founder of Playapy and Creator of the PALS Handwriting Program. She is a pediatric occupational therapist, play advocate, and parent coach with over 17 years of experience. Learn more at www.playapy.com.