Chance games, like chutes and ladders, can be very challenging for children on the autism spectrum. Games involving chance require and a incredible amount of flexibility. This chance game was designed after a 9 year old that I work with that just LOVES to hear people sneeze. He has even stopped mid tantrum to hear me sneeze. This game was based on a great idea that one of his volunteers made up. So- here’s to sneezes!
Name of Game: The Sneeze Spot
Challenge: Playing a game with simple rules, flexibility within the game
Motivation: Seeing you do a funny and exaggerated sneeze.
How to play: Take a large poster board and draw a snake path board game with a beginning, end and about 40-50 spaces in between. On ten of the spaces of the snake path draw a picture of a nose or of someone sneezing- this is “the sneeze spot”. Use 2 different paper clips or coins as the markers. Take turns rolling the die and moving your marker accordingly. If you land on a sneeze spot, the other person has to make a very loud and funny sounding sneeze, which ‘blows’ you back 3 spaces. Continue taking turns until one person reaches the end first.
Props: Poster board, 2 objects as markers, die, pen