Board game system for teaching and promoting proper hygiene

Abstract

This invention relates to an educational device employing a board game system to teach basic hygiene concepts, routines and processes to both children and developmentally challenged individuals. The educational board game consists of a playing field with a plurality of spaces that define a path of travel and specific hygiene tasks which require simulation by the players. Movement about the game board is facilitated by a random selection from a numerical value and special instruction deck of playing cards. Each time a player can correctly identify the steps necessary to complete a hygiene task properly and in correct order they receive an “Artifact” card. The first player to collect all six “Artifact” cards by completing all six of the hygiene task simulations and is the first to reach the center of the playing board wins the game.

1 . A game board system comprising:
 A plurality of playing cards with a numerical value between one and six and “specialty movement” cards with specific directions which are “shuffled” and stacked face down for a player to make a random selection. A plurality of playing pieces, one for each player. A plurality of “hygiene task” cards each containing an animated visual representation of a specific phase of a hygiene task which when in play need to be presented on the game board in proper order to successfully accomplish the specific hygiene task. A game board with a plurality of squares in a convenient pattern to facilitate movement around the board to allow game play. A game board having a series of playing locations defined about said playing surface in substantially contiguous relationship having a shape of a rectangle which comprises a playing path wherein said playing pieces are moved in discrete steps between successive locations. A game board having a second series of playing locations defined about said playing surface in substantially contiguous relationship whereon players move in discrete steps between these successive locations and when a player's piece lands on these locations, obtains the opportunity to correctly identify the successive steps necessary to complete a specific hygiene task.   
     
     
         2 . A game board comprising a plurality of squares strategically patterned around the gaming area to define a path of travel; a plurality of playing pieces representing each player's position on the path of travel around the game board; a plurality of playing cards containing a numerical value from between one and six and “specialty movement” cards containing specific directions which are shuffled together, stacked and adapted to be selected randomly by the players to determine the number of spaces to be traversed and to control the number of squares which can be advanced by a player on a given turn, a plurality of locations strategically placed along the defined path of travel whereon players find the various hygiene tasks that need to be demonstrated correctly using the “hygiene task” cards; a plurality of hygiene task cards needed for players to demonstrate the correct chronological order of each phase or segment of a specific hygiene task which must be placed in the step-by-step sequence to complete the task correctly; a plurality of “Artifact” cards awarded to a player for each correct sequence of hygiene task cards completed. 
     
     
         3 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , further comprising an instructional manual containing a plurality of board game rules and instructions describing how to conduct proper play of the board game system. 
     
     
         4 . A board game system as described in  claim 2  wherein the game board contains a plurality of similarly shaped squares of equal size that define a players path of travel which represent a fictional walk-way around a fictitious village. These squares that facilitate a players path of travel lead to six defined destinations of game play where hygiene tasks must be simulated with playing card representations of particular segments comprising the entire hygiene task. These six defined hygiene task destinations represent fictitious merchant or vendor destinations in the fictitious village. The fictitious merchant destinations are identified on the game board as follows:
 a) Magic Carpets   b) Bread, Figs and Fruit   c) Tunics and Shawls   d) Fresh Fish and Meats   e) Sandals and Footwear   f) Scrolls and Manuscripts   
     
     
         5 . A game board system as described in  claim 2  wherein the game board contains a plurality of similarly shaped squares of equal size that define a players path of travel representing a walk-way around a fictitious village. These squares that facilitate a players path of travel lead to the six defined “merchant” destinations of  claim 4  and also to the ultimate destination of the game board located at the center of the board and designated as the “Hygien-E” space. A player who has successfully visited each “merchant” location on the game board by selecting playing cards with random numerical values or specific directions and moved the corresponding number of squares on the game board or followed the specific instructions of a “specialty movement” card and has successfully simulated each of the six hygiene tasks at each “Merchant” location and received all six “Artifact” cards, and is the first player having completed the game play as described to arrive at the “Hygien-E” destination wins the game. 
     
     
         6 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a series of six hygiene tasks located at six different destinations around the game board. Players traverse the defined path of travel using a random chance method form a stack of playing cards imprinted with a numerical value between one and six. Upon reaching a “merchant” hygiene task destination each player is allowed one attempt to correctly identify the proper order or sequence of every phase of that hygiene task. If the player correctly identifies the steps necessary to accomplish the hygiene task they are awarded an “Artifact” card that signifies the task has been completed. If the player is unable to correctly identify the steps necessary to accomplish the hygiene task they must re-visit that “merchant” destination on subsequent turns until they correctly identify the correct steps necessary to complete all six hygiene tasks. The six hygiene tasks that must be simulated in this fashion are:
 a) Hand Washing   b) Teeth Brushing   c) Taking a Bath   d) Taking a Shower   e) Basic Table Manners   f) A Morning Grooming Routine   
     
     
         7 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a series of six hygiene tasks at various destination points located about the player's defined path of travel about the game board. At these destination points, the players must simulate the actual hygiene task by placing in correct order the playing cards of each phase of the designated hygiene task. At one specific destination point is the hygiene task of Washing Hands. At the Washing Hands destination point each player must use the “Hygiene Task” cards provided at that destination and place them face up in correct order upon the game board. The step-by-step sequence necessary to successfully complete the Hand Washing task are:
 a) Turn on the water   b) Get your hands wet   c) Apply soap to your hands   d) Scrub your hands together   e) Rinse off your hands   f) Turn off the water   
       Each of these six steps are represented on the “Hygiene Task” cards with an animated character performing the specific function as described above. The player uses those visual depictions to simulate the hygiene task having one opportunity on any given turn to demonstrate the correct order in which these components must be done to accomplish the designated hygiene task. 
     
     
         8 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a series of six hygiene tasks at various destination points located about the player's defined path of travel about the game board. At these destination points, the players must simulate the actual hygiene task by placing in correct order the playing cards of each phase of the designated hygiene task. At one specific destination point is the hygiene task of Brushing Teeth. At the Brushing Teeth destination point each player must use the “Hygiene Task” cards provided at that destination and place them face up in correct order upon the game board. The step-by-step sequence necessary to successfully complete the Brushing Teeth task are:
 a) Turn on the water   b) Get your toothbrush wet   c) Apply toothpaste to your toothbrush   d) Brush your front teeth   e) Brush your side teeth   f) Brush the back of your teeth   g) Rinse out your mouth   h) Turn off the water   
       Each of these eight steps are represented on the “Hygiene Task” cards with an animated character performing the specific function as described above. The player uses those visual depictions to simulate the hygiene task having one opportunity on any given turn to demonstrate the correct order in which these components must be done to accomplish the designated hygiene task. 
     
     
         9 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a series of six hygiene tasks at various destination points located about the player's defined path of travel about the game board. At these destination points, the players must simulate the actual hygiene task by placing in correct order the playing cards of each phase of the designated hygiene task. At one specific destination point is the hygiene task of taking a Bath. At the Bath destination point each player must use the “Hygiene Task” cards provided at that destination and place them face up in correct order upon the game board. The step-by-step sequence necessary to successfully complete the Bath task are:
 a) Wash your face   b) Wash your hair   c) Wash your chest   d) Wash your arms   e) Wash your back   f) Wash your legs   g) Wash your feet   h) Rinse off   
       Each of these eight steps are represented on the “Hygiene Task” cards with an animated character performing the specific function as described above. The player uses those visual depictions to simulate the hygiene task having one opportunity on any given turn to demonstrate the correct order in which these components must be done to accomplish the designated hygiene task. 
     
     
         10 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a series of six hygiene tasks at various destination points located about the player's defined path of travel about the game board. At these destination points, the players must simulate the actual hygiene task by placing in correct order the playing cards of each phase of the designated hygiene task. At one specific destination point is the hygiene task of taking a Shower. At the Shower destination point each player must use the “Hygiene Task” cards provided at that destination and place them face up in correct order upon the game board. The step-by-step sequence necessary to successfully complete the Shower task are:
 a) Turn on the water   b) Wash your face   c) Wash your hair   d) Wash your chest and arms   e) Wash your legs   f) Wash your feet   g) Rinse off   h) Turn off the water   
       Each of these eight steps are represented on the “Hygiene Task” cards with an animated character performing the specific function as described above. The player uses those visual depictions to simulate the hygiene task having one opportunity on any given turn to demonstrate the correct order in which these components must be done to accomplish the designated hygiene task. 
     
     
         11 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a series of six hygiene tasks at various destination points located about the player's defined path of travel about the game board. At these destination points, the players must simulate the actual hygiene task by placing in correct order the playing cards of each phase of the designated hygiene task. At one specific destination point is the hygiene task of Basic Table Manners. At the Basic Table Manners destination point each player must use the “Hygiene Task” cards provided at that destination and place them face up in correct order upon the game board. The step-by-step sequence necessary to successfully complete the Basic Table Manners task are:
 a) Put your napkin on your lap   b) Use your fork and knife to cut your food   c) Put a small amount of food into your mouth at one time   d) Chew your food with your elbows off the table   e) Don't chew with your mouth open   f) Don't talk with food in your mouth   
       Each of these six steps are represented on the “Hygiene Task” cards with an animated character performing the specific function as described above. The player uses those visual depictions to simulate the hygiene task having one opportunity on any given turn to demonstrate the correct order in which these components must be done to accomplish the designated hygiene task. 
     
     
         12 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , further comprising a series of six hygiene tasks at various destination points located about the player's defined path of travel about the game board. At these destination points, the players must simulate the actual hygiene task by placing in correct order the playing cards of each phase of the designated hygiene task. At one specific destination point is the hygiene task of a Morning Grooming Routine. At the Morning Grooming Routine destination point each player must use the “Hygiene Task” cards provided at that destination and place them face up in correct order upon the game board. The step-by-step sequence necessary to successfully complete the Morning Grooming Routine task are:
 a) Make your bed   b) Change from your pajamas into your clothes   c) Put your dirty laundry into a basket   d) Wash your face   e) Brush your teeth   f) Comb or brush your hair   
       Each of these six steps are represented on the “Hygiene Task” cards with an animated character performing the specific function as described above. The player uses those visual depictions to simulate the hygiene task having one opportunity on any given turn to demonstrate the correct order in which these components must be done to accomplish the designated hygiene task. 
     
     
         13 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of playing cards are numbered sequentially from one to six. These playing cards are adapted to be selected randomly by the players thereby controlling the number of squares which can be advanced by a player in an effort to move around the defined path of travel laid out upon the game board. In addition to the sequentially numbered “movement” cards there is a plurality of playing cards to be adapted for random selection along with the sequentially numbered cards. These additional “specialty movement” cards include:
 (SIX) cards that allow for a player to take an additional turn   (TWO) cards that allow for a player to lose one turn   (SIX) cards that allow for a player to proceed to an indicated “Hygiene Task” destination point   (TWO) cards that allow for a player to proceed to the “Hygiene Task” destination point of their choice   (FOUR) cards that allow for a player to lose one of their “Artifact” cards (TWO) cards that allow for a player to prevent losing one of their “Artifact” cards   (FOUR) cards that allow for a player to proceed to the nearest “start” space   (TWO) cards that allow for a player to receive one additional attempt to correctly simulate a hygiene task   
       Each of these “specialty movement” cards offers a player the chance to perform any of the specific actions listed above on the basis of a random selection from the large plurality of playing cards which includes a collated grouping of the numerical and “specialty movement” cards which work together to facilitate movement along the defined path of travel upon the game board as well as fair, orderly and entertaining game play. 
     
     
         14 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of cards include “Artifact” cards. There are six different type of “Artifact” cards, one particular artifact to correspond with a specific hygiene task. These “Artifact” cards are awarded to a player who lands on a hygiene task destination point and can correctly demonstrate the step-by-step sequence to complete that hygiene task by placing in order the appropriate “hygiene task” cards necessary to properly accomplish the specific task. The “Artifact” cards correspond to the following hygiene task and it's related destination point:
 a) Hand Washing—Plate of Bread   b) Teeth Brushing—Sandal Buckle   c) Bath—Scroll   d) Shower—Carpet Tassel   e) Basic Table Manners—Plate of Fish   f) Morning Grooming Routine—Beaded Shawl   
     
     
         15 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of cards include “Hygiene Task” cards. These “Hygiene Task” cards are arranged in six specific groups for each of the six hygiene tasks which are located at specific destination points on the game board. Each hygiene task has a corresponding collection of “Hygiene Task” cards. There are a specific number of cards for each task. Each card of the collection for a task depicts a certain phase of that task with an animated character demonstrating that phase of the hygiene task on the card that when correctly placed in order with the entire collection depicts the proper completion of that hygiene task from start to finish. A player who lands on the hygiene task destination point on the game board has one opportunity on that turn to correctly place on the game board surface, the “Hygiene Task” cards for that particular task in the correct order in which to properly complete the hygiene task. 
     
     
         16 . A board game system as in  claim 2 , wherein the specific resolution of game play as identified in the instructional manual or booklet of  claim 3  describes the first player to traverse the defined path of travel around the game board by utilizing the random numerical “movement” cards and the randomly selected “specialty movement” cards, lands upon all six destination points or “Merchant” locations whereon are located the specific hygiene task, correctly simulates the hygiene task at each of those “Merchant” locations as detailed in  claim 6  and has therefore accumulated all six of the “Artifact” cards that correspond to the correctly simulated hygiene task, and further is the first player having accomplished those components of game play, traverses the defined path of travel of the game board to the “Hygien-E” space located at the center of the playing area as detailed in claim five and therefore wins the game.