Games that Promote Fine Motor & Gross Motor Skills in Kids 6 & Up

Author:
rmcrayne
Updated date:
Jul 31, 2018

Rose Mary, an Occupational Therapist since 1987, is experienced with pre-term infants, early intervention, school therapy, and home health.

These are games that promote motor control, facilitating fine motor skills or gross motor skills. I have designated all of these for age 6 and up. Most of these games are suitable for adults, or for families.

Most of these games are also classic games from the 1960s or 1970s. A recurring theme among Amazon raters, is that new games are inferior in quality to the games they grew up with. Therefore I recommend you scour eBay and thrift stores for vintage versions of these games.

Games reviewed in this article:
Bed Bugs
Booby Trap
Drop in the Bucket
Topple
Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots
Ker Plunk
Tumble Game
Tumbling Monkeys
Yoga Kit for Kids
Twister

Bed Bugs

family-games-that-promote-motor-skills-for-age-6-and-up — Amazon

Bed Bugs

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: Players attempt to capture as many bed bugs as possible with their tweezers from the shaking bed.

Amazon Customer Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars from 81 raters. Complaints were that the game is now more cheaply made than versions from a few decades ago. Some complaints that it was not challenging enough because the bugs don't jump enough.

Skills: Manipulation of tweezers, speed.

Modifications: Suitable for children to play alone to practice skills.

Bed Bugs

Booby Trap

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: Players take turns removing 1 of the 63 round pieces held in place by the spring loaded tension bar. Remove the wrong piece, and send many pieces flying.

Amazon Customer Rating: Average of 3.2 of 5 stars from 100 raters. Those dissatisfied sited cheap construction. Several comments agreed it was not the Booby Trap game of their childhood. Others were completely satisfied with the game. Two similar games rated much higher. Oh Snap rated 4.6 of 5 stars from 26 reviewers, and Bits & Pieces Land Mine Game ranked 4.0 of 5 stars from 7 raters.

Skills: Controlled movement and strategy in removing the round pieces.

Modifications: Suitable for children to play alone to practice skills.

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Booby Trap

Drop in the Bucket

Number of Players: unlimited players.

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: Classic game, originating in 1930. Launch colored marbles into the buckets with spring loaded launcher. Scores double when marble and bucket colors match.

Amazon Customer Rating: Average rating of 2.7 stars out of 5, from 5 reviewers. Three raters stated kids loved the game. Two raters said the spring broke almost immediately.

Skills: Graded movement for launching marbles.

Modifications: Suitable for children to play alone to practice skills.

Topple

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: Players choose a color, and roll a die to determine where they must place pieces on the tottering platform. Points are awarded for completed rows or high stacks. Penalties are imposed for topples.

Amazon Customer Rating: 3.7 of 5 stars from 158 raters. Complaints of poor quality compared to early versions. I have a fairly new Topple game, and have no complaints. Some other complaints that the game is too complicated. When I use the game for therapy, we just take turns placing pieces on the board. Simple!

Skills: Careful, controlled movement in placing discs on the platform.

Versions: Travel game version.

Modifications: Suitable for children to play alone to practice skills. Small children can play without scoring.

Topple Commercial

Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots

Number of Players: 2 players.

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: This Mattel game originated in 1966.

Amazon Customer Rating: 4.1 of 5 stars from 927 reviewers. Complaints that the robots are now smaller and the overall game “flimsy” compared to the game of raters’ childhood.

Skills: Dexterity, control and endurance in managing toggles to work robot arms.

Versions: Mini game, Kung Fu Panda, Superman Returns, Batman vs Superman.

Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots "You knocked my block off!"

Ker Plunk

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: Popular Mattel game for 35 years. Thirty thin sticks are placed through the cylinder chamber, then 32 marbles are poured on top. Players take turns carefully removing the sticks, trying to dislodge as few marbles as possible. Player with the fewest marbles after all of the marbles are dislodged, wins.

Amazon Customer Rating: 3.8 of 5 stars from 638 raters. Chief complaints: Poor quality of materials, straws flimsy, smaller and shorter cylinder than the Ker Plunk game parents had when they were kids. Also complaints that the game requires adult to set-up.

Skills: Steady, controlled movement in removing sticks.

Versions: Honey Bee Tree game by International Playthings is similar. Tumbling Monkeys and Tumble games are also similar. See reviews below.

Modifications: Suitable for children to play alone to practice skills.

Tumble

Tumble Game

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: This Pressman game is played like Mattel’s Ker Plunk.

Amazon Customer Rating: Average rating 2.9 of 5 stars, from 42 raters. Complaints of poor construction and materials, too difficult to get sticks in, and too easy to shake or tip over. Ker Plunk, above, is similar, and rates higher.

Skills: Steady, controlled movement in removing sticks.

Versions: Multiple similar games: Honey Bee Tree by International Playthings, Tumbling Monkeys by Mattel, and Ker Plunk by Mattel. All of these games were better rated than this game.

Modifications: Suitable for individual play to practice skills, but would need to be secured so as not to tip over.

Tumblin' Monkeys

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: Play of this Mattel game is similar to Ker Plunk, also a Mattel product. In this game, monkeys replace marbles. The monkeys’ tails can hook on the sticks, making them tumble less quickly or easily than marbles.

Amazon Customer Rating: 4.6 of 5 stars from 134 raters.

Skills: Steady, controlled movement in removing sticks.

Versions: Multiple similar games: Honey Bee Tree by International Playthings, Tumble by Pressman, and Ker Plunk by Mattel. This seems to be the best rated of these games.

Modifications: Suitable for children to play alone to practice skills.

Yoga Spinner Board Game

Yoga Spinner

Number of Players: 1 or more participants.

Ages: 6 and up.

Brief Overview: Kit includes large card with yoga poses. Participants spin to determine which pose they must do, while trying to collect a yoga pose card in each color.

Amazon Customer Rating: 4.3 of 5 stars by 21 raters.

Skills Concentration, balance, strength and flexibility. Also motor planning (sequencing of unfamiliar movement or task).

Modifications: Each participant can perform to his or her own level.

Twister

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Ages: 5 and up.

Brief Overview: Hasbro game, around since 1966. The designated spinner spins to determine on which color players have to place right or left hand or foot. Players get tangled and ultimately one or all topple.

Amazon Customer Rating: 4.1 of 5 stars from 818 raters.

Skills: Motor planning to carry out unusual movements, gross motor coordination to place hands and feet, strength and endurance to hold positions.

Versions: Spanish version, Twister Hopscotch, Dance DVD, Take Out, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Twister Moves, Outdoor Scram, Dreamworks Trolls.

Modifications: Concessions can be made for younger players.