Prototype 1

The main practical function of the toy is to help children practice their fine motor skills, especially those used when operating clothing fasteners.

This prototype has two different set of parts that can transform it into two different animals. It only has buttons to attach these parts, but the goal for the final product was to expand to a larger variety of fasteners (zippers, velcro, snaps, buttons, magnets, and hair clips). Another goal for the final product based on this prototype was to have sets of these fasteners geared towards different skill levels.

For the child in therapy at the clinic, the draw of this toy is that it is a toy instead of a cold, clinical tool. Not only that, but it will allow the child to build their own animal. They will be practicing fine motor skills on multiple types of common fasteners but will be more focused on the reward of a stuffed animal they have built than on the repetitive nature of the task.