Four game suggestions for: The surprising mirror balls
Author: Els Rengenhart
Occupational therapist and SI specialist
The Mystery Sensory Balls or the surprising mirror balls. I previously wrote a blog about the Sensory Reflective Balls that look similar. The effect of the mirrored surface described there also applies to these balls. This set consists of six seemingly identical stainless steel balls with a diameter of 10 cm. By picking up the mirror balls, shaking them or letting them roll or spin over the floor, the differences come to light. The balls can be used in many different ways. 
Four game suggestions:
1. Pick it up and shake it - listen, feel and move
By picking up the mirror balls, you notice that the balls are not all equally heavy . By shaking them, the four balls make a different sound . Two balls do not make a sound but do differ in weight. Especially because the balls make different sounds, they entice you to pick them up one by one and try out which sound they make.
The 'sound' balls can be used as a musical instrument by shaking them. For example, when singing children's songs. With the four balls and a group of children, you can quickly form a whole orchestra.
2. Rolling on the ground - listening, looking and moving
When the mirror balls fall on the floor or roll over the floor, they all make a different sound. They also roll over the floor in a different way. The surface influences both the sound of the balls and the way in which they roll. On a carpet or solid floor covering, the balls sound different - I think it's nicer - than on a harder surface. On the other hand, the balls roll further on a harder surface, which makes the different movement effects clearer. Some balls hardly roll at all, or only a little bit. Others change direction or roll back towards you. Even when the balls roll against each other , it always makes a different sound. The difference in sound and movement of the balls, invites you to pick them up and let them roll over the floor in different ways.
3. Listening and following with a group of children
You can also play different games with it with a group of children. For example: the balls are on the ground more or less together. The children sit or stand in a circle around them. One child takes a ball, shakes it to make the sound and then rolls the ball from his place in the circle to the other balls. One of the other children must then grab the ball that was rolled. By shaking the ball, the other children can then judge whether the correct ball has been grabbed. A fun game to focus attention and follow the ball with your eyes.
4. Spinning on the ground - moving, looking and listening
A funny effect is created by making the balls spin or spin with a rotating movement . This works best on a hard surface. By making the balls spin together, you see that they move in different ways and also that some balls repel or attract each other. Unevenness in the floor, such as the joints of the bathroom tiles, also influences the spinning movements. Some mirror balls therefore continue to move for an extra long time.
Conclusion
The Mystery Sensory Balls are suitable for children from about 2 years old. The surprise effect will challenge them to investigate and try out . Also suitable for childcare, playgroups and the like to make 'music' with in groups or to play other games with. The balls are not suitable for throwing or playing football.
