Snack-O-Saurus Rex: How to Use it in Play Therapy
- Tasha Milligan
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A few years ago, one of my clients' moms told me that I should buy Snack-O-Saurus Rex. She said the kids would love it. They do! I'm so glad I listened. This game is well-loved in my play therapy room, and I have found several therapeutic ways to use it with my clients.
How the Game Works
The game comes with a dinosaur with a retracting tongue, 4 cave people, the gameboard, a die, and 20 snack pieces. The dinosaur attaches to a plastic piece at the center, allowing you to rotate it 360 degrees on the board. The snack pieces are magnetic and will stick to the dinosaur's tongue. The snack pieces will be placed on the gameboard - one on each space.
Each player selects a cave person to use during gameplay. Each player will start in a cave, coordinating in color with their cave person. They will roll the die and move the indicated number of spaces. The player will keep the snack they land on. They will then push the button on the back of the dinosaur to launch its tongue to get a second snack. The next player will also roll the die and move, but will now have the option between selecting another snack from the board with the dino tongue or knocking down the other cave person and stealing a snack from that player. So fun!
The directions indicate the game is over after a player gets 2 matching snacks. I don't play this way because the game ends very quickly. I usually play until all the snacks are gone. The players can then either count the total number of snacks or the number of matches to see who wins.
Related Post: Turning Trauma Into Treasures: A CBT Game for Trauma
Therapeutic Use of the Game
I have many children that I see who struggle with food issues. Many are very picky eaters, only eating snack-like foods and avoiding all vegetables. Some struggle with certain smells and textures. I also have many who experienced early childhood neglect and tend to be food hoarders. Many will ruminate about food throughout the day. The imagery in this game can open the door to discussion of healthy eating, the danger of indulging only in junk food, and how to address hoarding and rumination.
I find that kids are often much more open to discussing these types of issues when you introduce a game or resource that introduces the topic, as it seems less personal and invasive. Kids feel that the questions are natural and fit the game, rather than feeling picked on or defensive about the issue. Plus, their focus is on the game, letting mindless chatter slip past their defenses.
I also found that this game is quite helpful in family sessions. It is interesting to see the way family members interact with this one. Do they play aggressively and steal snacks from each other? If so, what is the response? Are they compassionate or empathetic? Do they play with a playful spirit, or does it seem vindictive? Do they communicate well? Is there a counter-attack? All of these behaviors help provide insight into the interactions. I like to discuss my observations after the game (if appropriate) to help bring insight into the family dynamics. It can help them better understand their communication and interaction styles.
All in all, this is a fun, interactive game. Kids tend to love all things dinosaur, drawing them in from the get-go. It is also inexpensive. I paid around $20 on Amazon, but I just found it at Five Below for $6! Snatch it while you can!
Be sure to check out my other game reviews here:
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