Games that feature common objects or everyday activities can be especially beneficial for autistic children. The game Yes, Chef! from University Games is one of them! The game was unveiled at Toy Fair New York (TFNY) last month.
It’s a fast game in which players race to match their ingredients to food order cards, and it’sone the whole family can enjoy. Yet, kids with functional challenges may especially enjoy the game and benefit from playing.
One notable aspect of the game is that every player plays every round. Thus, there is no waiting for your turn. This aspect is especially helpful for kids who have attending issues.
Another notable aspect is that the game is a mix of fun and learning. It teaches visual discrimination and motor skills, but it does so while kids play. As kids play, they look at the master card and see food plates. Then, players have to flip their playing cards to match the food plates on the master card.
To do this, kids have to use a pretend spatula to flip their cards and work on their wrist dexterity. Playing the game also works on processing skills, hand-eye coordination, and visual cues as players look at the master game card and reacting accordingly. To see the game in action, watch my 30-second YouTube video from Toy Fair here.
The game is designed to be rapid. However, it can be adjusted to suit the needs of individual kids. For example, you can eliminate the use of the bell if it is a distraction or causes anxiety. Also, parents can feel free to let their kids play solo, view the cards, and react to their timing without the competition.
You can also build up to traditional gameplay by introducing a small, sand hourglass and encouraging kids to make the match in time to the hourglass. Plus, parents can remove the spatula and have kids use their hands to flip the cards. Alternatively, eliminate the flipping element and have kids line up their cards as shown on the master card for a simple sequencing exercise.
All in all, this game, launching soon, is great for the whole family, but can be especially fun and functional for children who need to work on processing speed and visual cues!
