Abstract: An instructional aid comprises a mat shaped like a letter “U” and suitable, e.g., for placement on a floor. Pairs of cards may be provided for use with the mat. For example, one set may relate to “fruit,” and two cards in the set may bear matching pictures of apples, another pair may bear matching pictures of bananas, etc. The mat may comprise spaces, e.g., for placing such cards, and in one embodiment, the spaces may be clear pockets, corresponding to the size of the cards. Some embodiments of the invention may encourage, e.g., active play between a caregiver and a preschool-age child, stimulating, e.g., social interaction and development of the child's ability to speak and understand. Examples of such active play may include matching games, but are not limited to such games.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved oral self inspection device that is versatile, inexpensive, and easy to use. The device consists of a small, cylindrical light source on which a small front primary or inspection mirror, a larger rear secondary or ocular mirror, and a cheek and tongue extender are mounted. Each of these implements is mounted at the end of an arm whose other end is rotatably and slideably mounted on the cylindrical light source. Each such arm is independently rotatable a full 360 degrees around the body of the cylindrical light source, such that the relative angular position between each of the implements is infinitely variable. Each of the arms is also independently slideable along the cylindrical light source, such that the relative separation between the implements can also be readily changed. The primary mirror may be attached to its mounting arm at a fixed angle, or the angle of tilt may be adjustable.