Mancala is a great game to help develop a variety of skills in your children. Children learn how to count, problem solve, and take turns. This board game comes with small, pebble like game pieces that require fine motor skills to operate successfully.
This game will provide your child with plenty of opportunity to practice finger dexterity, finger isolation, and in-hand manipulation skills.
Establish Hand-Dominance
If your child is 6 years old and has yet to establish hand-dominance; this game may help! Some children who haven’t developed hand dominance may not cross the midline of the body. For example, they may use their right hand to grasp a game piece on the right side of the board and then transfer it to their left hand before placing the piece back on the board.
Use Mancala for Midline Practice
If this sounds like your child – 1) set up the game directly in front of them; 2) have them pick up the game piece with their left hand and place the piece on the right side of the board; 3) alternate hands so that they complete their next turn using their left hand (or complete one full game crossing midline with one hand and then switch hands the next game).
Here is a Mancala board game we found at Target:
Includes: Game Pieces and Game Board
Ages: 6 years and Older
Price: $9.99
Labels: Fine Motor, For Parents, Games, helpful toys, Occupational Therapy, OT, Parents, PT, Tips, Toys
