Manufacturer Name:
Little Tikes
Product Name:
Customer Quote: My husband and son play this every night before dinner. It’s nice they have a common interest. -- Mother of Sean, Chicago, IL
Product Images:
Communicative Description
Playing a game of basketball encourages children and adults to spend more time together on a recreational activity.
This basketball set has a simple design and is cognitively easy to understand how to play.
Playing basketball is a physical activity that helps combat childhood obesity.
Shooting baskets does not require significant receptive or expressive language to play successfully.
The net can be raised or lowered to alter the challenge for a child.
Skills
Visual tracking, which is a pre-literacy skill, can be enhanced as children follow the ball through the air and into the basketball net.
When playing with friends turn taking, sharing, appropriate game etiquette, and friendly competition are promoted.
Playing a game of basketball promotes team building – working as a team to achieve a goal. This is an important life skill.
The physical activity a child’s whole body receives can aid in better attention and focus during a cognitive task that is presented after.
Problem solving skills naturally develop when children learn what to do if they throw the ball too hard and it bounces off the backboard instead of dropping into the net or where they need to stand so they are not too close or too far away from the net.
Children develop strategic thinking skills when they play a game and need to figure out how to make baskets, how to pass and how to prevent the other team from scoring.
Self esteem increases as children successfully make baskets and gain a sense of accomplishment playing basketball.
Play Ideas
Play game of “HORSE” – or use children’s current spelling words. This is played by having the first person shoot a basket. If he makes it, the next child shoots from the same location. If a basket is missed, the child earns the first letter of the word (such as H for Horse). Continue play moving to different locations after each round. The person who spells the word first is out. Play continues until there is only one child left.
Every time you shoot, verbally say an animal name, color or shape.
Have children make “swish” sounds as they make baskets. Change the sound they need to make to encourage vocalizations to help improve articulation or production of sounds.
Adaptation Ideas
Sensory Description
Playing basketball with this set is visually stimulating and does not require hearing to play.
Playing basketball is a physical activity that helps combat childhood obesity.
The ball is mildly textured.
Sound of the ball bouncing on ground and off backboard can be stimulating for some children.
Skills
Visual tracking can be enhanced as children follow the ball through the air and into the basketball net.
The physical activity a child’s whole body receives can aid in better attention and focus during a cognitive task that is presented after.
Self esteem increases as children successfully make baskets and gain a sense of accomplishment playing basketball.
Motor planning and coordination are naturally practiced during play. This can lead to better self help abilities and academic functioning.
Play Ideas
Make sure the play area is safe from cars and other obstacles that children who are hearing impaired may not hear or children who have visual impairments may not see.
Adaptation Ideas
Physical Description
The height of the basketball net can be adjusted for children who use wheelchairs.
The net can be raised or lowered to alter the challenge for a child.
Playing basketball is a physical activity that helps combat childhood obesity.
Skills
Eye-hand coordination is promoted when children aim and throw the ball into the basketball net.
Visual tracking, which is a pre-literacy skill, can be enhanced as children follow the ball through the air and into the basketball net.
Two-handed grasp and timed release are encouraged when a child throws the ball into the net.
Children reach, extend their arms to play and strengthen core muscles when they play basketball with this set.
Self esteem increases as children successfully make baskets and gain a sense of accomplishment playing basketball.
Dribbling the ball, shooting baskets and playing a game of basketball with others helps improve balance and coordination as well as works on weight shifting, pivoting and movement.
Children increase wrist rotation and flexibility as they hold, dribble, pass and shoot the basketball.
Motor planning and coordination are naturally practiced during play. This can lead to better self help abilities and academic functioning.
Long side strides, running, and movement during basketball increases strength and flexibility.
Play Ideas
Mark areas on ground with chalk. Have children practice making baskets from each marking. This can help encourage children to use different positions, work on different muscles and adjust strength to throw the ball into the basket.
Children with and without physical disabilities can play together – children who are ambulatory can rebound for those who use wheelchairs.
Adaptation Ideas
Let some air out of the basketball to help children grasp it easier. This will also prevent it from rolling far out of reach. (Note: the ball will not bounce as well)
Cognitive Description
Children learn through repetition. Playing basketball and shooting hoops enables children to practice skills over and over, leading to increased abilities and heightened retention.
Children who have cognitive disabilities often use products for a longer period of time before mastering the skill or outgrowing it. This basketball set is high quality and durable, and is height adjustable.
The net can be raised or lowered to alter the challenge for a child.
This basketball set has a simple design and is cognitively easy to understand how to play.
Playing basketball is a physical activity that helps combat childhood obesity.
Children can play this activity alone or with friends.
Skills
Eye-hand coordination is promoted when children aim and throw the ball into the basketball net.
Visual tracking, which is a pre-literacy skill, can be enhanced as children follow the ball through the air and into the basketball net.
Children sequence steps to make a basket – pick up the ball, dribble the ball, stop and aim at the net, throw the ball into the net, retrieve the ball and repeat. This helps children cognitively think through a task and figure out how to complete the ultimate goal – in this case, making a basket.
Counting can be encouraged as children count how many baskets they make.
Concentration and focus are used when aiming and shooting baskets.
When playing with friends turn taking, sharing, appropriate game etiquette, and friendly competition are promoted.
Problem solving skills naturally develop when children learn what to do if they throw the ball too hard and it bounces off the backboard instead of dropping into the net or where they need to stand so they are not too close or too far away from the net.
Children develop strategic thinking skills when they play a game and need to figure out how to make baskets, how to pass and how to prevent the other team from scoring.
Self esteem increases as children successfully make baskets and gain a sense of accomplishment playing basketball.
Play Ideas
Play game of “HORSE” – or use children’s current spelling words. This is played by having the first person shoot a basket. If he makes it, the next child shoots from the same location. If a basket is missed, the child earns the first letter of the word (such as H for Horse). Continue play moving to different locations after each round. The person who spells the word first is out. Play continues until there is only one child left.
Mark areas on ground with chalk. Write numbers by each marking. When children make a basket from that location, they earn that point value. Incorporate simple math adding the points together.
Adaptation Ideas
Raise or lower the basket to alter the challenge.
DESCRIPTION: Approx. Price: 21.00-40.00Box Age Range: 1+ yrs# of Pieces: Washability: Surface WipeStorability: Directions: Simple Play Locations: Outdoor Adjustability: Levels of Play: Five or More LevelsBatteries: None needed
Features and Benefits
Lightweight High Contrasting Colors Wide Age Range Can Be Used Independently or w/Others Promotes Active Play Durable Easy to Grasp/Hold One-Piece Unit
Developmental processes promoted
Coordinated Movement Problem Solving Physical Range of Motion Core Strengthening, Trunk Strength, Stability Proprioceptive Input Action Concepts e.g. In/Out, Push/Pull, On/Off, Go/Stop Visual Processing Social Interaction Reaching/Arm Extension Eye-Hand Coordination Gross Motor Balance Visual Tracking Visual Attention Motor Planning
