This sensory based game called “What did the piggy eat” is sure to be a hit in any home or classroom! Children love games built upon silly concepts and this game is sure to make your young ones laugh while learning important skills. The premise of the game is that your child will blindly reach into the “pig’s belly” to find out what silly objects that the piggy ate. Once the child pulls out an object from the “piggy”, he has to feel it, then verbally describe the object and finally guess what it is without looking at it.
The game develop social skills, sensory skills, and tactile discrimination skills (the ability to identify an object by touch alone, rather than through sight). This skill comes in handy in multiple situations such as when you are: typing, texting, using a remote control, or searching through your desk, locker, pocket, or purse for small objects that are hidden from sight.
How To Play
1. Decorate a large container to resemble a pig (I used an old box of oatmeal)
2. Place several objects in the container that have various types of sizes, shapes, and textures
3. If the child will tolerate a blindfold, place the blindfold on the child and have him reach into the “pig’s belly” to pull out a object (just have them close their eyes if they cannot tolerate a blindfold).
4. While keeping the blindfold on, ask the child has to describe the object and guess what it is
Who Could Benefit From This Activity
- This game is a great activity for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school- aged children (Make objects more difficult to decipher for older children)
- This game is a great group activity or can be done individually as well.
- Children who are working on their communication skills can greatly benefit from this game.
- Children who are developing tactile discrimination skills (i.e. individuals who have difficulty completing tasks when they are not looking at the objects).
- The game can be modified for older kids as well by decorating the container differently (i.e. paste a teacher’s face on the front of the container and make it a funny game with a good-spirited teacher, parent, or therapist called, “What did Mrs. Jones eat ?” etc..)
What will your piggy eat today? Try out a wide variety of objects to make the most out of this game! And most importantly, have fun- oink oink!