First Hand

First Hand - Motor planning and body awareness fun.

I have used this First Hand card game a lot, but I have never played it as an actual game. It's great for those with difficulty motor planning and kids have been very open to it. 

The pictures on the cards grade in difficulty from one hand, to two hands doing the same thing, to two hands doing different things, to arms crossed and hands doing the same thing, to arms crossed and hands doing different things, to hands in positions that are not possible (see below). The last card is an example of a position that is impossible.



There is nothing on the cards that indicate order of difficulty, so I just sort them. All four versions on each card are the same, as the game is meant for more than one player. Since I don't play this as a game, I simply place one card (or the pile) in front of the person and ask him to put their hand(s)/arm(s) in the same position as they see on the card. If the person you are working with is distracted by the other 3 sets of hands, cut a square the same size as the card from white paper, cut out a small square that will let only one hand view show, and place it on top of the card to block the other three. 

Blocking the other three views to reduce distraction.

 If the individual is able to work his way up to identifying the impossible cards, I ask him to model each card (if he can) and then put the card into one of two piles - possible or impossible. If kids can't read, I put two signs on the table for sorting - a smiley face for possible and a frowning face for impossible. Kids have liked this game, always a big plus!

Object:
Have the least amount of cards in front of you at the end of the game.
 
Set up:
Shuffle the cards and put them in a face-down pile in the middle of the players. Players keep their hands close to their bodies. Choose a referee for the first round.
 
Play:
Players all play at the same time, except for the referee, who does not play the round. Referees will change with each new card. The referee flips the top card. All players race to place their hands on the table in the same position as on the card. The slowest player gets the card. The referee checks to make sure that all hands are in the correct position. If the referee cannot decided who was the slowest, the card is not given this round, but is given to the loser of the next round. If am impossible card is turned, players must keep their hands crossed or close to the body. The instructions do not give any idea what to do if someone is wrong or places their hands on the table during an impossible card. The referee job moves to the next person to the left and a new card is turned. Keep playing until all the cards have been turned. The player with the least amount of cards is the winner.

Try this:

• Sort the cards before you start to focus on what you are working on and to avoid flipping cards that the individual will not be able to complete. I usually keep the impossible cards separated, as not all can understand them, and only add them in when I want them.
• Number the cards in groups in order of difficulty to save time sorting. 
• Model for those who have difficulty, let them follow your actions.
• Sit side-by-side with the individual so that what you do will be the same direction for them to repeat. Sitting across from them will result in them seeing the movements opposite from what they should do. 
• Start with the same hand each time on two-handed cards to make it easier for those who have difficulty motor planning. Then gradually move up to two when they are ready.
• Determine if the position is possible or impossible by visualizing your hands in that position. Keep hands below the table and just think about it, then call out the answer. Good for kids who have already mastered the game using their hands.
• Show the individual a possible card and ask him to look and remember it. Turn it over and put hands in the same position from memory.
• Pick cards up, one at a time, from a flat surface, or lift one at a time off the pile without sliding other cards off the pile.
• Work on in-hand manipulation, manual dexterity, finger isolation, spatial relations, visual discrimination, visualization, visual memory, body awareness, motor planning, pronation, supination, crossing midline, proprioception, symmetrical bilateral integration, asymmetrical bilateral integration, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box:   60 cards (some possible, some impossible)