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
Thumb Wars or Thumb Wrestling:
Two players face each other. The players hold right hands and curl their fingers into each other’s palms so their hands ‘lock’. Both players touch the tips of their thumbs together. See which player can pin down the other player’s thumb under their thumb for three seconds. They are the winner of that round in thumb war.
Make this a family activity: Have a thumb wrestling tournament with your family.
This activity promotes dexterity, strategy making, and fine motor skills.
Rock beats scissors (smashes it). Scissors beats paper (cuts it). Paper beats rock (covers it).
To make a rock, make a fist. To make paper, lay your hand flat. To make scissors do the peace sign but with your hand pointing sideways (pointer finger and middle finger pointing straight out of a fist).
This is a fun way to decide who goes first when playing a new game.
Make this a family activity: Have a tournament.
This activity promotes the ability to predict the actions of others as well as timing and strategy.
This activity promotes prediction skills and cause and effect skills.
