Have you introduced your little ones to BINGO yet? I enjoy using BINGO activities with my OT kiddos because it targets a variety of skills and can be adapted for many developmental levels. It works on several visual perceptual skills, fine and visual motor coordination, auditory processing and attention to name a few! My pre-kindergarten friends work on matching picture to picture. I use letter cards for my friends working on letter identification, numbers for my friends working on number identification and sight words for my pre-reading friends. For kids working on writing words, I often have them copy the sight words onto handwriting paper and cut them out to make the “calling cards.” It’s usually a motivating way to get some handwriting practice!
Of course my OT heart always likes to add in a fine motor/visual motor component, so I will have them use tongs to pick up and place their BINGO markers to cover the square. If I have a child that needs to work on these skills, but also needs to MOVE, I put the calling cards at one end of a tunnel/hopscotch/scooter board path, etc. and have the BINGO card at the opposite end. It’s usually a good challenge to have them look at the picture and try to remember it when they get to the other end. If that’s easy, I will have them try to remember multiple items/numbers/letters, etc.
You can certainly get creative on what to use to mark the BINGO cards.
Poms are always a great option, but you could also use raisins, conversation hearts or chocolate chips for an extra sweet treat!
Skills involved in BINGO: (and many more depending on how you play!)
- visual scanning
- visual memory
- visual discrimination
- language
- auditory processing
- letter/number identification
- fine motor coordination
- visual motor coordination
- strengthening of intrinsic hand muscles (tongs)
- attention to task
I typically find great, free, printable cards on Pinterest or for just a few dollars on the Teachers Pay Teachers website (I’m always happy to support them!).
Here are a few of my Valentine themed favorites:
What cards are your favorite?