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Purpose:

Similarities is a matching game, but instead of finding doubles the goal is to find cards

with similarities. The purpose of Similarities is to enhance the knowledge of leisure among

individuals. Similarities will also enhance communication skills through negotiation,

communication, conflict, and compromise between teammates. This competitive and fun

game will help individuals develop relationship building skills while they participate in a game

that focuses on improving individual’s cognitive and social skills.

Origin:

Similarities is a modified form of existing matching games. There are a vast amount of

matching games throughout the world; each differing from the other. The unique difference

that Similarities has is its matching concept. Instead of matching cards that are exactly the

same the individual matches cards that have similarities. For example, a hockey stick would

share similarities with a hockey player.

Participants:

Individuals with Down Syndrome have an array of physical characteristics each unique

to the specific person. The individuals at the Huntington Park Recreation Centre with Down

Syndrome have some of the following physical characteristics: vision difficulties, hearing

difficulties, small hands, short in height, slightly protruding tongue, poor muscle tone, poor

immune system, overweight, slanted eyelids, and smaller heads with larger foreheads.

Individuals with Down Syndrome experience a loss of cognitive ability as they age. Due

to the common trait of memory loss it is important to work on individual’s memory, so they can

maintain what they have and hopefully grow on it. Persons with Down Syndrome may lack

learning and social skills due to their disorder. Learning and social skills can be acquired by

persons with Down Syndrome they just take a longer period of time to acquire the skills than a

person without Down Syndrome.

Many individuals that are diagnosed with Down Syndrome are very social when given

the opportunity to be social. They need to be taught social skills and given the time to learn

what they are being taught. Socially persons with Down Syndrome fall along a scale of very

social to non-social. The majority of persons with Down Syndrome have joyful personalities and

when given the chance to participate they will be more than willing too.

Persons with Down Syndrome are emotionally stable just like any other person they

experience and display; anger, happiness, joy, frustration, sadness and all other emotions.

Often individuals with Down Syndrome are very lovable and display their love through hugs,

smiles, and companionship. Persons with Down Syndrome can become confused and

frustrated if they do not understand a task completely. They need more time to process

instruction and learn a skill and without that extra time they can become anxious.

Goals:

The goal of Similarities is to enhance the communication skills among individuals

diagnosed with Down Syndrome through the use of an interactive game.

Rules/Directions:

Similarities matching cards are not identical, but they share similar photos that

represent leisure activities. Enjoy finding the similarities between these cards in this fun

adaptive game that can be played among all ages.

Getting Started

- Each person playing Similarities must introduce themselves to the other players before starting the game of Similarities.

- This game can be played individually or in Teams

- Teams: Separate the players into teams of two (Maximum of 4 Teams)

- You’ll need a flat surface to play Similarities

- Everyone playing the game should be able to see this surface

Playing

- Open the Similarities Box

- Shuffle the Similarities Cards

- One Team will Place all 58 cards face down on a flat surface (Cards can be placed faced

up if it is required to meet an individual’s needs)

- The players sitting to the right of the players that placed the cards onto the table will go

first

- The First teammate will pick one card/turn it over

- The Second teammate will pick/turn over the second card

- If the two teammates find a Similarities match then they collect the cards and continue

playing

- If the two teammates do not find a similarities match than the cards will remain where

they are/be turned back over and the next team to the right of these players will have

their turn

- Players will continue until all of the Similarities matches are found

Ending the Game

- When all of the Similarities matches are found the game will end

- The team with the most Similarities cards will win the game!

- When the game is over each team will have to tell the players what their favourite

Similarities card is and why

- Each player will also have to tell the group which Similarities card they’d want to

experience in real life

- After this the game will be over!

Justification:

Adults with Down Syndrome need to be involved in activities to increase their level of

socialization and communication; being social and communicating with other people increases

their cognitive functioning. “Down syndrome individuals need to be involved in as many

activities as possible. Keeping the adult involved in activities reflects the goal of socialization by

stimulating the person at a level that is challenging but not overwhelming” (Brian Chicoine,

Dennis McGuire, and Stephen Rubin: 2010). Similarities meets the needs of persons with Down

Syndrome by providing a game that challenges them to be social with teammates and

participants. This game should be posted on the schedule because it is a game that can be

adapted to assure that each individual achieves flow while maintaining a level of challenge.

Games and activities that include opportunities to be social and communicate with

people is beneficial for individuals with Down Syndrome. “Communication skills are often a

huge barrier to the development of social skills for adolescents with Down syndrome”

(Socialization Concerns in Down Syndrome, 2010). By playing Similarities people diagnosed

with Down Syndrome will work towards improving their communication skills. By putting

Similarities on the schedule individuals will have an opportunity to develop and improve their

social skills.

“Speech and language skills are central to the development of mental abilities such as

thinking, reasoning and remembering as well as to social inclusion, it is essential that speech

and language” is a focus for therapists working with individuals with Down Syndrome (Down

Syndrome Education, 2010). Similarities works on the social inclusion of persons with Down

Syndrome by encouraging communication and social interaction among the participants. The

game is beneficial to individuals with Down Syndrome and should be put onto the schedule

because it is a game that can increase their speech and language as well as their social skills.

Skills Needed:

To play Similarities the skills needed are; sight, memory, the ability to cognitively

recognize two similar cards, and the ability to point/turn over a card.

Ways the game can be adapted:

- Instead of pointing/turning of a card a player could simply say I want the second card

down and three over. They can verbalize their choices instead of physically choosing a

card.

- The cards can be face up instead of face down to change the challenge level of the

game.

- Instead of using the cards to match the similarities the cards can be used as visual cards

for individuals to look at. This way they are learning about leisure activities that are in

the community and becoming more aware.

- Persons with vision impairments can work with a team member or a TR staff to explain

what the cards are and discuss what activities may interest them.

Facilitator:

The Therapeutic Recreationist roles will vary throughout the game of Similarities for

each specific individual.

Some of the TR roles that will need to be performed are:

- To organize individuals around the game area - To help read instructions to the participants - To help and encourage individuals that are non-verbal or shy introduce themselves to

the group - To help make groups into teams to assure the teams are even - To designate the instructions to participants to perform, so the game can start - To observe the game while it is being played; while being available if anyone needs

assistance - To evaluate the behaviour of the participants while they are observing the game - To help the end counting to see who has more cards and announce the winner - To help with the debrief of the activity and the discussion of the groups favourite

Similarities card - To help clean up the game or to start a new game

References

Brian Chicoine, MD, Dennis McGuire, PhD and Stephen Rubin, PhD (2010). In Adults with Down Syndrome: Specialty Clinic Perspectives. Retrieved October 18th, 2010, from www.ds-health.com. In Down Syndrome Education International (2010). Retrieved October 18th, 2010, from

www.down-syndrome.org.

In Socialization Concerns in Down Syndrome (2010). Retrieved October 18th, 2010, from www.aapa.hdiuk.org.