Magnetic Pattern Blocks

Designed for hours of play and ideal for travel, this wooden magnetic board includes 120 colourful geometric magnets. Younger children will enjoy using the shapes to replicate the 12 geometric pictures included, while older children will enjoy creating mosaic patterns and pictures directly on the magnetic board. This set comes packaged in a convenient, snap-top, plastic carry case with sturdy handles.

Features:

• Sturdy wooden play board with an magnetic surface 
• 120 magnets in a variety of geometric shapes and colours
• Match magnets to pictures on 6 double-sided cards or design your own
• Includes a snap-top acrylic case with carry handles; great for travel
  

What our OT says:

As occupational therapists, we recommend the following strategies to enhance learning and skill development while using our puzzle board game:

• Preparation and Observation: Before starting, encourage your child to explore and play with the pieces. Point out differences in size, shape, color, and texture to promote sensory awareness and familiarity.
• Guided Start and Instructions: If your child needs assistance, initiate by placing the first piece in front of them or suggest a starting point such as "let's begin with the ears". This helps in understanding where to start assembling the puzzle.
• Progressive Building Techniques: Begin by building directly on the card. Once comfortable, encourage building next to the card, and eventually prop the card up in front for a more challenging perspective-based approach.
• Orientation Assistance: Help orient and place pieces if orientation is challenging. After demonstrating, hand the piece to your child and invite them to place it independently.
• Directional and Positional Language: Use consistent language like "above", "to the left of", "under", and "flush" to reinforce spatial awareness and accurate placement.
• Selective Piece Placement: Limit the number of pieces near the board to focus on specific skills, such as spatial orientation, reducing potential frustration and enhancing learning efficiency.
• Shape Recognition and Manipulation: Practice recognizing shapes from various orientations by mixing up piece positions. This encourages problem-solving and visual-spatial skills.
• Immediate Error Correction: Address errors promptly to prevent further mistakes that may affect the puzzle's completion. Encourage the individual to recognize and correct mistakes independently whenever possible.
• Promoting Independence: Gradually reduce prompts as your child gains confidence in identifying and correcting errors, fostering self-reliance and problem-solving abilities.
• Hand Strengthening Exercises: Encourage the use of the non-dominant hand to strengthen palmar arches. Start with holding a small ball and progress to holding puzzle pieces, maintaining a cupped hand position for improved dexterity and coordination.