Each Week OT expert, Sarit Tresser will be giving an in-depth insightful analysis into the various ways Health Games aid children with disabilities. Stay connected to receive first-hand input from a professional the field of child development
In this week’s post I will demonstrate the benefits of each of the Timocco games as it relates to Autism
As I mentioned last week, Growing with Timocco is a motion-based computer game enhancing social interaction skills in a safe and empowering environment.
Timocco’s gaming environment provides a good basis for the acquisition of communication skills, such as acceptance of game rules, the ability to share common space, relating to the presence of others, and the ablity to maintain joint attention.
Bubble Bath Game
The Bubble Bath game allows for the interplay of two players: parent – child, child – therapist, or two children. By joining hands and popping the bubble simultaneously, the children will achieve a better awareness of their partner and the common space they share.
Photo Album Game
While uncovering Timocco’s photo album the child relates to the story that lies behind it and sympathies with the character. This game can also be played with a partner for the improvement of social interaction.
Falling Fruit Game
This game challenges the child to relate to the presence of his partner. By placing the fruit in the right basket, closer to his partner, the child develops awareness to the boundaries of his own body while sharing a common space with others.
Balloons Game
This game encourages the child to take turns, when required to pop Timocco’s balloons and help him get down safely to the ground.
The software demands the child to follow the rolls within the game and act on the blinking balloon only when it is the child’s turn. This helps the child develop the ability to delay gratification and increase self-regulation.
Kitchen Drummer Game
The child shares joint attention with Timocco the monkey, this occurs when listening together to the auditory and watching visual sequences that are played on the kitchenware. The child must repeat the sequence and by doing so, challenges and develops visual and auditory processing.
Next week I will present Timocco’s new gaming environment that is aimed towards children with Autism, called: Tim-Duet. The Tim-Duet package enhances executive functioning, communication skills, and emphasizes functioning of daily living
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