3D games are any games with solid three-dimensional pieces we can manipulate. In many ways, they resemble toys.
Popular 3D Games
- Domino
- Rummy
- Jenga
- Bed Bugs
- Connect 4
3D Game Challenges for Neurodivergent and Disabled Children
- Complex rules may be difficult to follow
- Overwhelming amount of pieces and tasks/strategies
- Challenging to manage loose pieces
- Frustrating to balance stackable pieces
- Picking up 3D parts may be tricky
Skill-Building with 3D Games
3D games build:
- Fine motor skills/dexterity
- Spatial sense
- Eye-hand coordination
- Problem-solving and reasoning
- Balance, weight, and measurement
- Estimation
- Vocabulary
- Taking turns
- Cooperation
Suggestions for Adapting 3D Games
Find junior versions of popular games. Domino is a popular 3D-type game. This game is great to start with because of the size of the tiles, colors, and indentations. If traditional dots are too overwhelming for a first-time player, find junior versions of the game.
Anchor the pieces. For some kids, loose 3D parts in an unstructured space might be difficult to manage. Create a mat to better anchor the tiles.
Change the rules. Work up to playing traditional Domino by changing up the rules. For example, collect all the tiles of one top color or number.
Stabilize 3D pieces. Adding loop and hook dots might be a good beginner option for hands that need additional support.
Use jumbo versions of the traditional game. Many games on the market also have enlarged versions of the originals. Good places to look are in a toy store’s early childhood catalogues/sections. Also, look for garden or pool games.
Offer tools for picking up playing parts. If picking up small 3D pieces with a pincer grasp is a challenge, find other ways to do that.
A few ideas:
- Use a scooper with a handle
- Use a spatula for rolling the playing piece into a plastic jar that can be held off the edge of the table by an adult
- The player can use their hand as a rake to scoop the pieces off a table into a bucket (as described above)
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