Ball Crawl
Materials: any small ball, your hands Directions: Place the ball into a surface (can be a table or carpet as well as your legs). Place one hand on top of the ball. Encourage children to use only their fingers to move the ball up and then down again. For an added challenge: Using a table […]
Finger Touches
Materials: your hands Directions: Put on some fun music and get your fingers ready to work out! Have children hold one hand out in front of them. Slowly begin touching each finger to their thumb beginning with their pointer finger. As children get the hang of this exercise, try to pick up speed and see […]
Playdough Exercises
Materials: playdough, your hands, and fingers Directions: Make a fresh batch of playdough with your children. Knead the Dough: Allow children to knead the dough to the right consistency. Encourage them to use all parts of their hand to squish, squeeze, and knead the dough. Roll It: Encourage children to make balls, snakes, and other […]
Let’s stick together
Materials: scrap paper, stickers, your hands/fingers Directions: Set out scrap paper and a variety of stickers for the children to explore. Try picking stickers that differ in shape and size. Invite children over to peel and stick the stickers onto a piece of paper using their fingers.
One, Two, Three, Four, I declare a thumb war
Materials: Your hands Directions: Demonstrate this childhood favorite game and set out some safety rules. Invite children to partner off with a peer and join hands together, making a fist like shape with both of their thumbs out. When they are ready, let them start a thumb wrestling game with their peer. Continue playing as […]
Pop It
Materials: bubble wrap or pop its, fingers Directions: Set out your popping material (pop its or bubble wrap of varying sizes). Invite children over to explore and play. Encourage them to use their fingers to pop the different “bubbles”. Try popping with just one finger at a time. Add in two fingers, then three, four, […]
Finger Lifts
Materials: your hand/fingers Directions: Invite children to lay their hand flat on a surface. One by one lift each finger up as high as they can while still leaving their hand flat on the surface. Try each finger and then switch hands and play again!
Count with me
Materials: your hand/fingers Directions: Have children hold one hand out in front of them and make it a fist (tucking all fingers away). Slowly begin to count out loud together. With each number you put up a finger (“one” – put up one finger, “two” – put up another finger, etc.) until all five fingers […]
Where is Thumbkin?
Materials: your hands/fingers Directions: Play this childhood favorite game as you sing along together with your children. Use these lyrics and directions below: (Start with hands behind back) Where is thumbkin? Where is thumbkin? Here I am. (Bring right hand to front, with thumb up) Here I am. (Bring left hand to front, with thumb […]