My Very First Games: Nibble Munch Crunch
My Very First Games: Nibble Munch Crunch Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Contents
5 wooden food pieces (1 carrot, 1 clump of grass, 1 fish, 1 cheese, 1 bone), 5 animal cards (blue on the back), 5 cut-out cards (yellow on the back), 5 color cards (red on the back), 1 rulebook
1. Free Play
In free play, your child occupies themselves with the game components. As a parent, you can join in the fun. Explore the pictures on the cards and the wooden pieces together. Tell your child about the pictures on the cards. Talk about the shapes and colors of the wooden pieces, and explain what they show. Let your child handle the wooden pieces to become familiar with them.
Encourage your child to put the wooden pieces into the cut-out cards and help them match the shapes. Some of the wooden pieces have to be aligned correctly to fit. If necessary, give positive guidance; for example, you could say: "Hmm, the grass doesn't seem to fit. Try it the other way around." Next, you can help your child to arrange the color cards. Name the colors as you go. This way, you will encourage language development and vocabulary building, fine motor skills and concentration.
Talk to your child about which animals eat which foods.
Give your child enough time and be patient, even if progress seems to be slow or if your child needs help in getting all the pieces in their right place. Every child is different, and only practice makes perfect. As soon as your child is familiar with how to match and arrange the game materials, you can play one of the games with more rules.
If children are already familiar with the game components, you can ask questions about the details. For example: What does the cat eat? Which animal can you see here? What color is that? What else do these animals eat? You can also think up names for the animals. This helps to develop imagination and insight.
2. What Do Animals Eat?
A cooperative matching game for 2 - 5 players, in which the children always win. Get to know the different animals and their food.
Before the Game Begins
Spread out all of the wooden pieces at the edge of the playing area. Stack the animal cards (blue back) face down in the center of the table. Spread out the cut-out cards and the color cards in the center of the table, face-up.
The Game Can Begin
Play goes in a clockwise direction. The player who last fed an animal starts by turning over the animal card on top of the pile.
Ask the child: What animal do you see here? The child names the animal on the card. If they get it right, make sure you praise them. If the child does not know what the animal is, then gently prompt them.
Next question: What does this animal eat? The child names the animal's favorite food and looks for the matching wooden piece. Help the child if they are not sure. Now the child looks for the matching cut-out card in the center of the table and places the wooden part into it. Next, the child places the card and wooden piece on the matching color card. This is probably best done two-handed. If necessary, you can help with matching and stacking.
The child now pushes the stack across to the animal card that was turned over at the beginning of the move. Hooray! The animal has been fed and is now happily eating. Nibble munch crunch! Then it is the next child's turn to reveal an animal card.
End of the Game
The game ends as soon as all five animals have been paired up with their favorite food. Woo hoo, all of the animals have been fed and are happy!
Sharing fun makes your child emotionally strong and cheerful! It lends your child positive reinforcement and fosters solidarity within the family or community where the game is played.
3. Who Eats What?
A memory game on a food theme for 2 - 5 children.
Before the Game Begins
Each child selects one of the wooden pieces and places it into the matching cut-out card. All of the animal cards and color cards are shuffled face down and spread out in the center of the table. Return any wooden pieces or cut-out cards not in use to the box.
The Game Can Begin
Play goes in a clockwise direction. The player who last pet an animal starts by turning over any card from the center of the table.
Ask the child: What do you see on the card? The child names the animal or the color. If the answer is correct, make sure you praise them. If the child struggles to answer, gently prompt them.
Ask the child: Does the animal/color match the food on your card?
- Yes? Great! The child places the card next to their food card.
- No? Never mind! The players try to remember what they have seen on the card as it is turned back face down.
Then it is the next child's turn to reveal one of the cards in the middle.
End of the Game
The game ends for a player as soon as they have a matching set of food card, animal card and color card. Their animal has been fed and is happy! The other players can continue to play until everyone has a complete set of cards.