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Ramen Fine Motor Game - Noodle Knockout
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Aug 18, 2021 | 5 - 7 Years Math
It can be really hard to find engaging games to play with preschoolers. So often, I’ve found that my own children struggled to maintain focus and would become frustrated waiting for their turn. Over the years, I've learned that one of the key concepts for a successful game with younger children is to be as hands-on as possible. Learning Resources’™ latest offering, Noodle Knockout, proved to be such a hit with my 4-year-old for this exact reason. She LOVED the theme of the game and also how it worked.
What’s included?
This game got all the ‘ooooh's and ‘aaaaaas’ as the box was opened. My preschooler thought it was such a fun theme for a game. She got straight to work opening the pack of noodles and also the bag of toppings. You get a fun mixture of ramen-style toppings, and there are also two different sizes of noodles- long and short. There are child-friendly toy chopsticks for serving the noodles that are perfectly designed to work fine motor skills hard. Four different colored bowls correspond to the colored toppings and chopsticks, ideal for sorting activities. To complete the game set, you also get order cards ideal for role-play activities and a spinner to enjoy when you play the suggested games. Oh, and let’s not forget that all of this is contained in a large ramen-shaped serving bowl (the game box).
Ways to Play
The game comes with a fantastic set of instructions, guiding you through the many different ways to enjoy the materials. I always try to give my preschooler plenty of time to freely explore materials when it is her first time using them. She was in her element with this game set! She spent ages taking orders for noodles and cooking them up, carefully using the chopsticks to serve her creations. It was great to watch her happily cooking! After an initial free play, I showed her the order cards, and we had fun taking orders for each other. Ten double-sided order cards increase in complexity.
Next up, my 4 years old chose to do some sorting. She noticed that all of the ingredients matched the colors of the bowls. She set out the bowls and got to work using the chopsticks to fill each bowl with the corresponding colored ingredients. We linked in some numeracy by counting as we sorted. We also spoke about the shapes we saw. Lots of early Math links and fine motor development.
The final way we chose to enjoy the materials was to try out one of the suggested games from the instruction manual. The game was called Ramen Buffet and involved racing to create a bowl full of four noodles and one topping using the spinner. There are a few fun extra pictures on the spinner, which can lead to your opponent having to empty their bowl or you getting to choose an extra topping. This made the game fun and exciting, and using the chopsticks to transfer all of the food pieces was an engaging challenge.
Noodle Knockout is a great game for preschool-aged children as it is hands-on and has a fun food theme. One of the things we love most about the game is that the pieces lend themselves so well to roleplay outside of the game itself. This extends the longevity of the product and makes it a versatile addition to our playroom.
Writer’s Bio
Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 7 years old) and a preschool teacher passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play and being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind.
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Coloring is not only a fun activity, but it also has many benefits for children, including:
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- Improves focus and concentration: Coloring can help children focus and concentrate on a specific task, which can be helpful for their academic performance.
- Reduces stress and anxiety: Coloring can be a calming activity, helping reduce stress and anxiety in children and adults.
Encourage your child to use their favorite colors and get creative with their coloring. You can also use this printable to talk about springtime and narwhals, teaching your child about nature and animals. The Printable Spring Narwhal Coloring Page from Learning Resources is an excellent activity for children of all ages. It promotes the development of fine motor skills, improves focus and concentration, and helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Download the printable today and encourage your child to get creative with their coloring, spending quality time together as a family.
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