PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes | AGE: 2 - 3 years old
MATERIALS:
Cardboard
Scissors
Markers of 9 different colors
Ruler
Small bowl
INSTRUCTIONS:
Cut a square piece of cardboard and draw a 3x3 grid on it. This will serve as the base of the game.
Cut 9 small pieces of cardboard that fit within the grid boxes.
Use the markers to draw a different colored ice cream on each small piece of cardboard.
Place the small cardboard pieces in a bowl.
Cut several more square pieces of cardboard and draw a 3x3 grid on each one. These additional grids can be smaller than the base.
Draw a variety of colored ice cream sequences on the grids, placing one ice cream in each grid box. These pattern boards will be used to challenge the child.
Invite the child to select a pattern board and populate the game base with the small ice cream squares, following the sequence shown on the pattern board.
DEVELOPMENT AREAS:
COGNITIVE SKILLS: The child engages in cognitive processes such as pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory as they observe the pattern boards and replicate the ice cream sequences on the game base.
FINE MOTOR SKILLS: Manipulating the small pieces of cardboard and accurately placing them within the grid boxes on the game base requires precise hand movements, promoting the development and coordination of fine motor skills.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION: Matching the ice cream squares to the corresponding grid boxes on the game base enhances hand-eye coordination as the child visually tracks and aligns the pieces.
CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS: Completing the ice cream sequences on the game base requires sustained attention and concentration, fostering the child's ability to focus and stay engaged in a task.
PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS: The child needs to analyze the ice cream sequences on the pattern boards and figure out the correct placement on the game base, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
VISUAL PERCEPTION: The activity enhances the child's ability to visually discriminate between different colors and shapes as they identify and match the ice cream squares.
CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION: While the activity focuses on replicating the given patterns, there is also room for creativity and imagination as the child explores different color combinations and visual designs for the ice cream.
MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS: The grid structure of the game base introduces basic mathematical concepts such as counting, spatial organization, and symmetry.
