Finding Balance With Asperger's: Cooperative Learning Games by Peaceable Kingdom

Recently, I did a review of Feed the Woozle by Peaceable Kingdom Games which offers cooperative games that have kids working together to achieve a common goal instead of against one another. We liked Feed the Woozle so much that we agreed to try out two more Peaceable Kingdom Games when they kindly offered again.

As I had said in my previous review, cooperative learning games are amazing games for kids on the spectrum because they really eliminate the feeling of “losing”, which often makes ASD kids have a meltdown. Quinn is just such a kid who hates to lose. I mean really hates it. As much as I try to teach him that playing games is supposed to be fun and it’s not about winning, there is something inside him that just disagrees vehemently with me. He’s really enjoyed Feed the Woozle and hasn’t had any meltdowns with that one, and both the new games, Willy’s Wiggly Web and Snug As a Bug In a Rug, haven’t caused one either.

Willy’s Wiggly Web is a game where you set up a stretchy paper spider web across the “treetops” and then place Willy the spider and some other friendlier bugs in the web. Players take turns using safety scissors to try to cut the bugs free without letting Willy fall out too. We have never seen a game like this before, and it is really fun! Quinn loved strategically cutting the web to free the bugs, but was always very careful to leave Willy securely in the web. This game is unique, entertaining, and quick because game play usually only lasts about 15 minutes. The game comes with 50 paper webs, but the company will happily send out more for free when you run out.

Snug As a Bug In a Rug is a clever, fast, and simple game that even little kids can understand. To play, you spin the spinner and remove a bug from the top of the board based on either number, color, or shape and slide it underneath. If you can’t find any bugs that fit your assigned attributes, you have to put on a “stink bug”. If all 3 stink bugs find their way onto the board before the last bug is under the rug, then the stink bugs win the game. Quinn likes this game the best out of all of them because of how simple yet fun it is. He frequently gets this one out and plays by himself or with his brother.

Each of these Peaceable Kingdom Games retails for $19.99 on their website, www.peaceablekingdom.com.

Thank you to Peaceable Kingdom for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon.

JumpSport iBounce Kids Trampoline with Tablet Mount

As part of his occupational therapy, Quinn uses a trampoline frequently and I’ve been wanting to get him one to use at home for over a year. When I learned about JumpSport’s kid’s trampoline, the iBounce, I was very excited to get one for Quinn.  This award-winning toy has won 8 awards in 2012, including the 2012 Creative Child - Kids Product Of The Year.

Quinn lacks proprioceptive input (body awareness) and has problems regulating his energy output, so indoor trampolines are perfect for him. This one has the added benefit of having exercise videos that comes with it featuring an adorable kangaroo, RompyRoo, and it has a tablet mount so he can watch his RompyRoo videos right on the trampoline’s handle bar via his iPad. Rompy is a little “babyish” (as he’d say), but he still enjoys the videos.  Take a look for yourself . . .


The JumpSport iBounce Trampoline is a fun and engaging way for toddlers and preschoolers to get exercise. This personal-sized trampoline provides hours of fun, develops coordination and balance, builds muscles and stamina, is a great outlet for pent-up energy, and, for kids on the spectrum, really helps improve their body awareness. It is made of very sturdy steel, sure to hold up with recommended use, easy to assemble, safe, stable, and fun. It is recommended for kids ages 2-6 and up to 75 pounds. The tablet mount fits any tablet up to 10” and is great for tech savvy parents and children. The mount is very secure and has not given me any reason to worry it will drop the iPad.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

We really love this trampoline and it’s improved Quinn’s behavior and endurance so much since having it. I see him heading over to jump many, many times a day; sometimes for just a few minutes and other times for the length of the video. He loves following RompyRoo’s instructions and doing the fun moves he does. It has proven most useful for when Quinn starts to enter “meltdown mode” because it really helps release all the anger and frustration that builds up. I am very grateful we got this and look forward to Quinn getting many hours of daily use in the future.

To learn more about the JumpSport iBounce Trampoline complete with tablet mount and RompyRoo videos, visit www.jumpsport.com and JumpSport on Facebook.  The iBounce is currently on promotion for $129.95.

Thank you to JumpSport for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.

NOTE TO 3G2S READERS:  Keeping with the spirit of the Holidays, I have included an extra entry into this contest for liking a small charitable organization on Facebook.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!