Leave it to kids. They want to have a thumb war, but there are three who want to play this two player game. Nobody wants to be left out. What to do?
An adult would say: Tough luck.
OR:Someone will be left out.
OR: You can’t.
OR: Play something else.
A kid would say: Let’s try it and see what happens.
It’s this spirit and willingness to experiment and try things that may seem impossible that leads to creative solutions in our world as well as interesting and effective products (like computers, smart phones, radios, roads, planes, etc.) and in the Oram-Graham world… a three-way thumb war.
How to Play Thumb War… OR …How to Have a Thumb War
Here are the basics of a thumb war if you have never heard or seen one before.
Two people grip their right hands together almost like they are going to shake hands. Instead, they curl their fingers in, hooking their fingers to each other with their thumbs sticking up. Players have to keep holding onto each other’s hand. If they let go, they forfeit the game. (I.e. lose.)
Once ready, the players say: One, two, three four, I declare a thumb war!
If they want, they can have their thumbs ‘shake hands’ and get in their ‘corners’ before they start playing. Andddd… go!
The first to pin the other person’s thumb down with their thumb for 10 seconds wins. If the other person slips their thumb out before 10 seconds is up (you count out loud) the game continues on.
How to Play Thumb War with Three Players
Having a thumb war with three people is pretty much the same. Only there is this kooky chaos element to it. The third person slips their hand into the hands of the others just like with two players (only the hand holding is fatter now) and there are three thumbs in the ring! Look out! There are two thumbs out to try and pin you!
Players can work together to pin others or not!
* This is a great game for deciding who goes first (or who will be it) in a game.
What’s your favourite ‘who goes first‘ game?
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How to play a thumb war with… THREE players! http://t.co/sibQFaH0
— Jean Oram (@KidsPlay) September 18, 2012
To play musical chairs, you will need: music, chairs (one for each player—minus two).
Musical chairs rules:
Place chairs in a circle, the seats facing out. One player is in charge of the music, the others are trying to get a chair to sit on when the music stops.
Put out one chair for everyone, minus one chair. For example, if you have 5 people, one is in charge of the music and 4 are playing, so you need 3 chairs. Without looking at the players, the player with the music randomly turns the music on and off. The rest of the players walk around the chairs while the music is going. (You have to keep moving!) As soon as the music stops, everyone tries to sit on a chair. Whoever is left without a chair when the music stops, is out.
After each round, take out a chair. Keep playing until there is only 1 player left.
Variations: Everyone tries to get in a hula hoop or onto a towel when the music stops.
Make this a family activity: Who can get their butt on a chair the fastest? Is it better to be small or tall?
This activity promotes listening skills, coordination, and timing.
Cover your face with your hands (disappear–the baby can’t see your face) and then open your hands to show your face (appear–the baby can see you again) and say, “Peek-a-boo!” The baby will laugh and smile.
Make this a family activity: See who can make the baby laugh the hardest.
This activity promotes empathy and communication skills.
It is now the other player’s turn.
Lay the cards out like this,only face down so nobody sees which cards are where.
If you make a pair, you can keep going until you can’t make anymore pairs. Whoever makes the most number of pairs wins the game.
Hint: This game can also be played alone.
Make this a family game: See who remembers where all those cards are!
This activity promotes memory skills.
The rules for War:
Each player gets a deck of cards (make sure you shuffle them well). Players face each other at a table or sitting on the floor. At the same time, each player takes the top card off their deck and places it face up. Whichever player has the highest card wins the other person’s card. (Aces are the highest card. Then kings, queens, and Jacks. So, it goes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.)
For example: Jo has a 9 and Sally has an ace. Sally wins Jo’s 9.
If both players deal the same card, there is a tie and players go to war. Each player then deals four cards, face down and off to the side. At the same time, players show the top card off their deck. The highest card wins the war. The win all the cards from that round (the first deal which was tied, both stacks of four face down cards, plus the last two cards that were dealt).
If you go to war and happen to have a tie again, then deal four more cards face down plus one face up. Whoever has the highest face up card, wins ALL the cards from the two wars.
When players reach the end of their deck, they flip over their ‘dealt’ stack and use the cards they have won as their new deck. When one player runs out of cards completely, the game is over. It can take a really long time!
Make this a family activity: Have a tournament where the winners play against each other to have a champion.
This activity promotes math skills.
