Name of Activity: Jenga Boom
Type of modality
Game/ Game with Rule(s)
Type of play
Solitary (1 person) or Shared (2+ more persons)
Interaction pattern
Extra-Individual (if Solitary play) or
Inter-individual (if Shared play)
# of participants required
1+
Equipment/supplies
- Jenga Boom Game (includes a base with built in
detonator, 36 wooden Jenga blocks, and instruction
sheet for game)
- Flat Surface (ground or table top) for game play
- Chair(s) (if a table is being utilized for play and
individual(s) are not able to stand for extended
periods of time)
- Well Illuminated Area
- Area with adequate space for movement (this
game can be played seated or standing)
- Area with minimal distractions (especially for
individual(s) that may have difficulties with mental
functions (i.e. concentration)
- Area with table (if necessary or for individuals
that may have difficulty sitting on floor)
- If playing the game without any modifications, the
detonator/timer can be startling to individual(s) that
do not not like loud noises and/or have a heart
condition.
- If playing on the floor, ensure area is clean and
free of debris and/or objects that could injure
individual(s).
- If playing while standing, ensure area is free of
trip hazard(s)
- Depending on activity level of individual(s)
playing, a circular table or table with rounded edges
may be best.
Facilities required/environment
Precautions
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Sequence/Directions:
1. Before initiating play, Leader should familiarize his or her self with the game, contents located in
game box, how to set up the game, and how game is played sequentially.
2. Once familiar with the game, contents, and game setup, Leader should next locate an area with
adequate space for movement during play, as well as, a smooth and flat surface to set up the game for
play.
3. Once ready to begin play, the Leader should gather the game box with its contents and the client(s)
and proceed to the intended area where play should occur.
4. Leader should remove the contents from the box and place upon a flat surface.
5. Leader should set up the Jenga “tower” for play. The Leader may also want to engage the client(s)
by asking for assistance with setup.
 5a. Pull orange color string on detonator all the way out.
 5b. Press orange tab located on the base. (Platform should rise ~1 inch higher).
 5c. Stack all blocks on top of the platform.
o Blocks should be arranged three to each layer
o Each layer should alternate in different directions
6. Before beginning play, the Leader should briefly explain how to play the game (button to press to
start timer, what to do after block is removed, what happens when timer expires, etc.), as well as,
designate whom will begin game if there is more than one person playing.
7. To begin play, the client(s) will perform the following tasks:
 7a. Depress the Orange tab with an arrow symbol on it. (A ticking sound will be heard).
 7b. Once ticking begins, the client should attempt to remove a block that is below the highest
completed level (one with all three blocks in place) using only one hand before the detonator
goes off.
 7c. The client is able to poke blocks to see which is loose, but must use only hand to do so.
 7d. The client removes the block of his/her choosing and places that block on top of the tower in
an alternating direction from the level below it.
 7e. Once the block is placed on top, the client presses the Orange tab with a square symbol on it.
8. If steps 7a through 7e are completed without the tower crashing (either from the client’s actions or
expiration of the timer), it is now the other client’s turn or Client #1’s turn again and Step 7 should be
repeated.
9. If any of steps 7a or 7e are not completed and the tower falls, the game can be restarted. Step 5
contains the instructions for setup.
10. Once Step 9 is complete, return to Step 7 until game is deemed complete.
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Activity Analysis:
Category
Primary body position
Part of the body required
Skills
Depends on preference of Leader.
Could be Seated in Chair, Seated on Floor, or Standing
- Seated in Chair– Head, Upper Extremities, Thoracic Cavity,
Abdominopelvic Cavities
- Seated on Floor – Head, Upper Extremities, Thoracic Cavity,
Abdominopelvic Cavities, Lower Extremities
- Standing – Head, Upper Extremities, Thoracic Cavity,
Abdominopelvic Cavities, Lower Extremities
Movement
Bending, Pincer Grasp, Manipulating, Putting Down Objects,
Reaching, Releasing, Standing (if standing during play),
Stretching, and Turning or Twisting of Hands or Arms.
Physical
Balance (for Dynamic Standing if standing during play), Balance
(for Dynamic Sitting if seated on floor or in chair during play),
Cardiovascular Endurance (alarm could be startling, which could
have effect on BP), Fine Muscle Coordination (when grasping
block during turn), Motor Control (when placing block back onto
tower), Muscle Strength (when raising arm and controlling
movement and pressure applied to place block back onto tower
during turn), Active Range of Motion in Upper Extremities (if
seated), Active Range of Motion in Lower Extremities (if seated
on floor or standing), Speed (controlling how quickly or slowly a
block is removed and returned to tower during turn), and VisualMotor Integration (coordinating movements with what block is
seen/focused on to be moved during turn)
Cognitive
Alertness, Focused Attention, Sustaining Attention, Cognitive
Flexibility, Concept Formation, Concentration, Simple Decision
Making, Initiation, Insight, Organization and Planning, Simple
Problem Solving, Recognition of Shapes and Color, Sequencing,
Spatial Operations, and Strategy
Social
Regulating Behavior, Self-expression, Showing Respect &
Warmth, and Showing Tolerance
Auditory and Visual
Perception
Communication/language
Reception of Spoken Language and Reception of Written
Language
Self-care
N/A
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Psychological/emotional (possible) Joy (in successfully removing and returning a block to tower
without alarm sounding; may also be felt as tower height grows),
Guilt (if client knocks over tower or runs out of time and tower
falls, especially if they feel they let the rest of the group down),
Anger (if client runs out of time and tower falls or if another
person knocks tower over), and Frustration (if client or another
client knocks tower over or runs of time and tower falls; could
also be experienced if client has difficulty removing a block or
placing block onto tower during turn).
SIMPLIFYING AND COMPLICATING THIS ACTIVITY:
Cognitively
Physically
Ways to SIMPLIFY demands
- Play game without the
detonator activated or use a
silent timer to time. (The ticking
noise may be distracting and
could make concentration more
difficult)
- Additional verbal or visual cues
could be provided to assist
client(s) in remembering tasks to
be executed while it is their turn
or to assess strategy for block
removal.
Ways to make more COMPLEX
- Instead of a detonator timer that
is provided, use a cooking timer
or cellphone timer and challenge
client(s) to remove a block in a
shorter “x” amount of time
without knocking over tower.
- Challenge client(s) by
specifying which blocks should
be removed. For example, only
outside or only center. Blocks
could also be numbered before
setup and then arranged on the
tower in random order. Client(s)
could then be asked to remove
the blocks in numerical order
(descending or ascending).
- Do not use base of Jenga Boom
during game play and setup
game blocks on top of flat
surface (similar to traditional
Jenga). This could assist
client(s) with motor control,
coordination, and other
movement functions.
- Blocks could be sanded with
fine grade sand paper to enable
blocks to slide out easier.
- Larger blocks could be used in
place of the game blocks and
placed on top of a table to assist
client(s) with grasping.
-Allow client(s) to use both
hands if necessary to remove
blocks.
- Challenge client(s) by
designating a particular way to
grasp blocks during game play.
- Challenge client(s) by
specifying that non-dominant
hand be used to remove blocks
from tower.
- Client(s) that are physically
able could balance on foot
opposite of hand that is being
used remove block during their
turn.
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- Set up blocks in a way that
make them easier to fall. For
example, do not use base and
arrange blocks in rows of 4, 6, or
9 (if using all 36 blocks). Leader
could also remove blocks to
arrange differently (e.g. use 35
total blocks and arrange in 7
rows of 5 or vice versa).
Socially
- To assist client(s) that may
become frustrated during game
play or that may startle from
loud “explosion,” the detonator
could remain off during play.
- Structure the game in a way
that does not focus on “losing” if
tower falls, but instead about
how to respond to moments in
life that are challenging. For
example, the Leader could go
and purposefully cause the tower
to fall and model appropriate
self-regulation behaviors they
would like the client(s) to learn
or imitate.
- To encourage a more social
game, build relationships, and
encourage communication skills,
the game could be modified into
a team building type game. For
example, players could be paired
together and asked to stand side
by side. During game play, the
person on the right can only use
their right arm and the person on
the left can only use their left
arm for removing and replacing
blocks on the tower. Together,
the team must take turn
removing and replacing the
blocks and coordinating strategy.
Other Comments:
Jenga Boom is a game, which is created by Hasbro and has an estimated retail price of $16.99
(according to Hasbro.com). The game can be purchased through Amazon, Kmart, Walmart, and
ToysRUs, as well as, other reputable stores.
Please remember to sanitize products to keep the Leader and Client(s) healthy!
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