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Six soft shapes each consist of two halves to match and connect via hook and loop fastener (i.e. Velcro). Each shape has different fabric patterns and textures to visually and tactilely explore and match.
Approx. Price: $39.99 Box Age Range: None listed # of Pieces: 11-50 Washability: Machine Wash Storability: Easy Directions: Play Locations: Indoor Adjustability: Levels of Play: One Level Batteries: None needed
Shapes are tactilely diverse – velour, corduroy, smooth, bumpy. Each shape has several textures.
Shapes are large and easy to manipulate.
Skills
Match the pieces by pattern or by texture.
Identify the shapes by touch.
Spatial relationships up/down, in/out, on/off, under/over can be practiced and reinforced kinesthetically and visually when children pick up and put down the shapes, put them in a cubby and take them out, place them on a shelf or take them off, or hold them under or over a table.
Play Ideas
Put half of each shape in an opaque bag. Have the child hold a half in his hand and pull out a piece from the bag that matches the half he is holding.
Have the child close his eyes and identify the shape by touch. Advance the game to have the child recall the patterns and colors on that shape. This can assist in the development of memory and recall skills.
Use Braille tape to spell out the shapes. Have the child read the name and find the match by touch.
The shapes are soft and won’t instigate a startle reflex if inadvertently dropped.
The shapes are sized well for a wheelchair tray.
The shapes are soft and won’t hurt a child if hit or knocked.
The Velcro sides stick easily to each other, helping children who have unrefined movements to successfully connect two halves.
Skills
Arm strength and using two hands together at midline are practiced as children put the pieces together and pull them apart.
Arm extension and reaching are encouraged as children stack the pieces in a tower.
Gross motor skills and appropriate timed release can be enhanced as children throw shapes to another or throw them into a laundry basket. Anticipation and readying their bodies to receive a thrown shape also comes into play.
Reaching/arm extension can be practiced when reaching for a shape or giving or showing them to others.
Spatial relationships necessary for movement or in being moved can be reinforced, such as up/down, in/out, on/off, under/over, both kinesthetically and visually when children pick up and put down the shapes, put them in a cubby and take them out, place them on a shelf or take them off, or hold them under or over a table.
Wrist rotation is used as children throw, catch and manipulate the shapes.
Play Ideas
Line the pieces up on the floor as stepping stones.
Play catch with a shape. The shapes won’t roll away and they conform to a child’s grasp.
Throw the shapes one by one into a laundry basket. Gradually move the basket further away to help children gauge distance.
Hide the shapes around the room and have the child search and find them.
Encourage reaching by holding a shape up, down or to the side for a child to reach out and grasp.
Adaptation Ideas
Put Velcro on the backs of each shape. Prop up a carpet square and stick the shapes to it to play in an upright position.
There are six shapes included in the set, allowing for different levels of interaction - parallel play, cooperative play or social interaction.
Skills
Sharing is encouraged as children play together.
Receptive language and following directions can be targeted as caregivers ask children such questions as, “Can you find the star?” Have the child reciprocate to work on expressive language and formulating questions.
Six different shapes provide the opportunity for verbal labeling.
Counting skills are targeted as children verbally count the shapes as they place them in or take them out of a basket.
Words related to spatial relationships up/down, in/out, on/off, under/over can be verbalized or understood and reinforced kinesthetically and visually when children pick up and put down the shapes, put them in a cubby and take them out, place them on a shelf or take them off, or hold them under or over a table.
Encourage imitation by putting a shape on your head and having the child put one on his/her head. Use a mirror to reinforce imitation. Continue by placing the shapes on different parts of your body.
Play Ideas
Place all the pieces in a pile and have the child or children race against time or each other to make matches.
Play “I Spy” and describe a shape by pattern and color and have the child find the shape.
Have two or more children play catch with a shape.
Place all the shapes in front of a child and have him look at them all. Then have the child close his eyes while you remove one shape. When the child opens his eyes, have him determine which shape is missing by name. To lessen the challenge, begin this game with fewer shapes, such as two and have the child identify the missing shape. Gradually increase the number of shapes used until all are in play.
Have the child verbally count as he tosses the shapes into a laundry basket.
During play, place the shapes out of reach so a child has to verbally ask for a specific shape by describing the colors, patterns or name of shape.
Two-piece shapes can help introduce shapes slowly.
Shapes are easily identified.
Shapes are large and easy to manipulate.
Skills
Problem solving skills are used as children determine what pieces go together and what sides of the Velcro connect.
Children can begin to recognize similarities and differences using the shapes, the various patterns and unique textures.
Color and shape identification and recognition can be targeted in play.
Counting can be introduced as children count the pieces they connect, count each shape, or count each individual piece.
Sorting and matching skills can be used as children manipulate pieces that have stripes or dots or pieces that have yellow edges, etc.
Children begin problem solving as they determine the correct pieces to connect.
Play Ideas
Ask the child different questions to encourage fundamental learning skills such as, “What colors are on the star?”
Trace the shapes on a piece of paper and have the child match the shape to the picture.
Put half of each shape in an opaque bag. Have the child hold a half in his hand and pull out a piece from the bag that matches the half he is holding.
Have the child close his eyes and identify the shape by touch. Advance the game to have the child recall the patterns and colors on that shape. This can assist in the development of memory and recall skills.
Create a corral for your own small play animals by arranging the shapes in a circle with the shape halves flat side down.
Create flash cards by drawing out each of the shapes in the set and have the child find the Shape SENSEation match or write out the words of each shape and have the child read the word and find the matching shape.
Make mismatched shapes and have the child problem solve to match correct matches.
