Tumbling Monkeys

Looking for a toddler game that the whole family will enjoy? Pull the branches out of the tree without letting the monkeys fall! 

Before playing you will need to assemble the tree by simply snapping together the tree, the base, and the leaves topper (4 pieces total). All pieces are lightweight plastic and it is an easy set up. One at a time, push a plastic stick (branch) through a hole on one side and guide it until it comes out a hole on the opposite side. As you insert the sticks, you will make a crisscrossed barrier inside the tree that will keep the monkeys from falling through to the bottom.

The die has three different colours on it, pink, blue and green, one colour per side. These colours match the stick colours and will dictate which stick colour to remove.

Players take turns. Throw the colour die and pull out one stick of that colour, trying not to open up any space for monkeys to fall through. The more sticks that are pulled out, the bigger the gaps and the more chance monkeys will fall. Each player removes any monkeys that fall on his turn and keeps them in a pile next to him. When all monkeys have fallen out, each player counts his monkeys. The player with the least amount of monkeys wins. 

Features:

• 1 X Tree Top
• 1 X Base of Tree
• 1 X Trunk Tower
• 30 X Monkeys
• 30 X Sticks
• 1 X Dice

What our OT says:

As an occupational therapist, I have found this game to be an invaluable resource in therapy sessions and at home. With its brightly colored sticks and adorable monkeys, this game captures children's attention while providing numerous developmental benefits. From enhancing pincer grasp and hand-eye coordination to offering fun and versatile gameplay options, the Tumbling Monkey Game is a must-have for anyone looking to support a child's growth and learning through play.

• Fine Motor Development: The Tumbling Monkey Game provides a wide variety of fine motor development opportunities:
  • Pincer Grasp: Picking up the monkeys and placing them on the branches helps strengthen the pincer grasp.
  • Palmar Arch Development: Holding multiple monkeys in the palm encourages the development of the palmar arch.
  • In-Hand Manipulation: Manipulating the monkeys within the hand without dropping them enhances in-hand manipulation skills.
  • Coordinated Use of Both Hands: The game requires coordinated use of both hands, promoting bilateral coordination.
  • Fine Motor Precision: Placing the monkeys carefully on the branches develops fine motor precision.
  • Eye-Hand Coordination: Aligning the monkeys and sticks requires excellent eye-hand coordination.
• Sensory Integration: The tactile experience of handling the monkeys makes them a great addition to sensory trays. Children can enjoy the texture and weight of the monkeys, enhancing their sensory exploration.
• Versatile Gameplay: The Tumbling Monkey Game can be played in multiple ways, keeping children engaged and providing various levels of challenge:
  • Basic Setup: Place all the sticks in the tree and hang the monkeys one by one on the outside branches. This simple setup encourages initial engagement and basic motor skills.
  • Colour Sorting: Set up the tree by throwing the die to determine the colour order for inserting the branches. Place all branches of one colour at a time, adding an element of colour recognition and sorting.
  • Competitive Play: See who can get the most monkeys on the tree. This competitive aspect can make the game exciting and fast-paced.
  • Stick Challenge: See how many sticks you can pull out in one turn before a monkey falls. Keep the sticks and see who ends up with the most sticks, promoting strategic thinking and fine motor control.
• Fine Motor Tools: Incorporate fine motor tools like tweezers to pick up the monkeys, adding another layer of challenge and skill development. This activity can be particularly beneficial for children who need to work on their grip strength and precision.
• Handful Drop: To add the monkeys to the tree, pick them up one at a time and hold them in the palm. Challenge the child to see how many they can hold without dropping. Then, drop them by handfuls into the top of the tree, which helps with hand strength and coordination.