Thumbs Up!

Thumbs Up! - Learn colors, counting and sequencing

Thumbs Up! has a very simple objective - Look at the pattern card and stack the rings on your thumb in that color order. For instance, the card with the cats below would be first ring yellow, second ring green, third ring red, fourth ring blue, and fifth ring blue.

The rings are plastic and come in four different colors. The number of rings stacked will be between five and seven.

I have been using this as an activity for only one individual at a time for one simple reason - speed. The winner of each round is the person who can produce the correct stack of rings on their thumb, following the pattern card, the fastest. Play through the deck or for a set amount of time. At the end the grand winner is the person with the most cards. Not all respond well to games based on speed, and especially not if having difficulties in any of the key skill areas. Kids have enjoyed playing this in therapy and each card typically only takes seconds to a minute to complete.

Try this:

• Skip the competition, just show the player one card at a time and have him stack the rings.
• Ask the individual to lift the top card off the stack after he makes each pattern. Try not to slide the cards all over or tip the pile over.
• Place each ring flat on the table for a more challenging pick-up.
• Isolate different fingers to stack on.
• Sort the rings by color while putting them back in the box.
• Skip the game and just use the pattern cards. Place cards, one at a time, on the table and call out each color in sequence from a card.
• Cup the hand and count the rings of one color as you drop them, one at a time, into the palm. Drop them into the box. Then cup the other hand and count and drop another color. Put them back into the box by the handful when cleaning up.
• Line the rings up on the table instead of putting them on the thumb.
• Skip the game. Call out the color for the player to pick up or make your own pattern.
• Work on figure ground, visual discrimination, spatial relations, visual form constancy, eye-hand coordination, sequencing, manual dexterity, using both hands in a coordinated manner, finger isolation, counting, attention, socialization skills, process skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation 

In the box: 48 plastic rings, 50 challenge cards

Ages 6+, 2-6 players

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.