Manufacturer Name:
B. Toys
Product Name:
Customer Quote: The colors selected for this toy are very calming and soothing for young children -- Occupational Therapist, Salem, VA
Product Images:
Cognitive Description
The set contains a ball tracker, four balls and a hammer.
The balls are a large size.
The hammer has a squeaker end to enhance play.
The unit is tall and has a clear front so children can see where the balls have gone once they pound them in.
Play with this toy is easy to understand.
The base of the tracker detaches which makes it easier to store.
The back of the tracker is mirror-like to encourage independent peek-a-boo play.
Skills
Children learn action concepts such as, “in,” “out,” and “on” during play with this tracker.
Children become familiar with the concept of cause and effect when playing with this toy.
Problem solving skills are used as children figure out how to make the balls come out of the bottom of the maze.
Visual tracking, a pre-literacy skill, is enhanced as children watch each ball’s descent to the bottom of this tracker.
Children practice number concepts as they count the number of balls being put into the tracker.
Color identification and matching can take place using the balls and the coordinating color rings on the tracker.
Sequential thought process is used as children perform the steps necessary to place the balls on top, hold the hammer, pound the balls, watch the balls track down and retrieve the balls at the bottom.
Play Ideas
Create a treasure hunt to find objects in the house that are the same color as the different balls.
Place all the balls at the bottom of the tracker and have the child close his eyes. Take a ball away and then have the child look and recall which ball is missing.
Roll a ball back and forth with a friend. This can help children strengthen muscles in their eyes needed for reading. It can also help children work on physical readiness.
Count how many seconds it takes a ball to descend to the bottom of the tracker.
Adaptation Ideas
For children who have difficulty hitting the balls hard enough to make them enter the maze, the balls and hammer could be used without the maze. The child can hit the balls with the hammer and make them roll across the table or floor.
For children who have trouble sequencing several steps, pre-place the balls on top of the unit.
For children who need a visual cue, place one ball on top of the unit and have the children place the other three.
Model how to hold and pound the balls with the hammer.
Sensory Description
The balls, hammer and unit are all uniform in texture – smooth, hard plastic.
The balls are large, easy to grasp and easy to see.
Each level of the tracker is a different color.
Two of the balls are solid in color; two are multi-colored patterns.
The hammer has a squeaker end to enhance play.
The unit is tall and has a clear front so children can see where the balls have gone once they pound them in.
Play with this toy is easy to understand.
The base of the tracker detaches which makes it easier to store.
Auditory feedback is provided as the child hits the ball with the hammer.
It is easy to feel where to place the balls on top of the unit. When pushed down, children can hear the balls rolling down the tracker.
Skills
Hitting the balls with the hammer provides proprioceptive input.
Visual tracking, a pre-literacy skill, is enhanced as children watch each ball’s descent to the bottom of this tracker.
Eye-hand coordination is practiced as children place the balls on the tracker.
Arm extension, reaching and wrist rotation is strengthened as children use the hammer to hit the balls.
Placing the balls on the top of the tracker helps children work on grasp, eye-hand coordination, and appropriate timed release.
Play Ideas
To increase sensory stimulation use the squeaky hammer on the floor or play table.
Place this unit on a light colored surface to help increase the contrast and heighten focus.
Adaptation Ideas
Physical Description
The hammer is very lightweight.
The ball tracker sits upright and balls are placed in holes in the top of the unit.
The base of the tracker detaches which makes it easier to store.
The base of the tracker has a trough for the balls so they do not roll out of reach.
The balls are a good size to encourage whole hand grasping and can help keep tight fists open.
Skills
Eye-hand coordination is practiced as children place the balls on the tracker.
Arm extension, reaching and wrist rotation is strengthened as children use the hammer to hit the balls.
Placing the balls on the top of the tracker helps children work on grasp, eye-hand coordination, and appropriate timed release.
Children become familiar with the concept of cause and effect when playing with this toy.
Problem solving skills are used as children figure out how to make the balls come out of the bottom of the maze.
Visual tracking, a pre-literacy skill, is enhanced as children watch each ball’s descent to the bottom of this tracker.
Transferring objects from one hand to the other can be practiced using one of the balls.
Hitting the balls with the hammer provides proprioceptive input.
Play Ideas
For new crawlers and walkers, roll the balls across the room and encourage the child to go get them.
Older children can sit across from each other and play a game rolling the balls back and forth.
Have the child push two balls in with both his hands simultaneously.
Hold a ball in each hand and bang them together to encourage midline play.
Have the child roll one ball from one hand to the other to help with midline play and hand transferring.
Adaptation Ideas
For children who may have trouble with manual coordination, pre-place the balls on top of the unit for them.
Wrap the handle of the hammer with masking tape or use a portion of pipe insulation to enlarge the handle and help with grasping.
Push the balls into the tracker using hands, rather than the hammer.
Pre-place the balls on the top of the unit to lessen the precision and grasp necessary to play.
Communicative Description
A variety of colors and patterns are used on the four balls and different sections of the tracker are different colors.
Four balls are included in the set.
Play with this toy is easy to understand.
Play duration can be altered to accommodate a child’s individual needs.
The mechanical component to this toy may interest children who have autism. The steps to activate the rolling of the balls helps to extend play and further develop skills.
The base of the tracker detaches which makes it easier to store.
The back of the tracker is mirror-like to encourage independent peek-a-boo play.
Skills
Children practice number concepts as they count the number of balls being put into the maze.
Turn taking can be practiced as children take turns using the hammer to hit the balls.
Children learn action concepts such as, “in,” “out,” and “on” during play with this tracker.
Children become familiar with the concept of cause and effect when playing with this toy.
Problem solving skills are used as children figure out how to make the balls come out of the bottom of the maze.
Visual tracking, a pre-literacy skill, is enhanced as children watch each ball’s descent to the bottom of this tracker.
Color identification and matching can take place using the balls and the coordinating color rings on the tracker.
Sequential thought process is used as children perform the steps necessary to place the balls on top, hold the hammer, pound the balls, watch the balls track down and retrieve the balls at the bottom.
Play Ideas
During group play, the balls can be used to help teach and reinforce the names of children in the classroom.
In a group setting, give one ball to one child then verbally name one child. The child with the ball must roll the ball to that child. Then the caregiver calls out another name and play continues. This helps children learn the names of other children and interact without compromising personal space.
Place the balls out of reach of a child to encourage the child to say or sign “more” when they want another ball.
Give children a verbal direction for which ball to pound into the tracker. This helps work on receptive language skills.
Have the child say a word or vocalize a sound each time a ball is pounded.
Take turns pounding a ball into the tracker. There are four balls and one hammer. Each child can pound two balls in and then hand the hammer to the other player. Or hammer one at a time, transferring the hammer back and forth after each turn.
Adaptation Ideas
For children who may become quickly over-stimulated, lessen the number of balls presented during play.
DESCRIPTION:
The B. Whacky Ball Activity Center contains a maze, four balls and a hammer that squeaks. The activity center provides opportunities to strengthen motor and learning skills. Children’s auditory and visual senses are stimulated when playing with this toy. The activity center can be used independently or in cooperation with others. To expand play, the balls and hammer can be used separately in other play activities. BPA-free and lead-free.
Manufacturer Website: justb-byou.com
Approx. Price: $24.99
Box Age Range: 1+ yrs
# of Pieces: 6-10
Washability: Surface Wipe
Storability:
Directions: None
Play Locations: Indoor
Adjustability:
Levels of Play: Three Levels
Batteries: None needed
Features and Benefits
Easy to Grasp/Hold Hands-on Approach to Learning Visually Stimulating Auditorily Stimulating Durable Different Shapes and/or Colors Simple Upright Position for Play
Developmental processes promoted
Visual Attention Visual Tracking Cause and Effect Action Concepts e.g. In/Out, Push/Pull, On/Off, Go/Stop Fine Motor Hand and Finger Grasp Eye-Hand Coordination Spatial Relationships e.g. Under, Over, On, Off Reaching/Arm Extension Coordinated Movement Problem Solving Finger and Hand Control and Dexterity Precision Wrist Rotation Proprioceptive Input Motor Planning Cooperative Hand Movements Counting/Beginning Math Visual Acuity Bilateral Coordination
