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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.
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.
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.
