Get a Grip

Get a Grip - A no-thumb challenge that might not be as difficult as you think!

Have you ever thought about how useful your thumbs are, or how hard it would be to accomplish things without them? If not, now is your chance, since Get a Grip is a no-thumbs challenge. Without thumbs you would most likely have to palm many things to carry them, picking up a coin off a flat surface would take time (unless you could just pull it to the edge and lift it - the OT in me, I'm already trying to figure out ways around), and rotating something small in your hand to examine it might pose a challenge (to name just a few). I was thinking that writing would be hard to do, but after picking up a pen and trying it, I found that that was quite easy to adapt to. And I'm sure with practice, you would probably become adroit at the other activities in your daily routine, but for the purpose of this game, most things Get a Grip will pose a challenge to many.

Now, we're not calling anyone a cheater, but to make absolutely sure that no one is using their thumbs, there is a wrap that will go around your hand to keep your thumb safely hidden. I mean, you've been using your thumbs your whole life. They know their job and it would just be natural for them to want to jump in and help. So everyone will be using a wrap on both hands during each challenge. Each wrap has a small pocket at the end that you tuck your thumb into, then place the wrap around your hand and velcro it closed. The wrap is about 13" long and I imagine it would fit around most hands.

For each challenge two people will compete against each other. There are three different types of challenges that you will be asked to complete - sculpt it, draw it, and do it. The clay and drawing pads are included. There are also challenges that will require items that are not included and you will have to assemble these from around the house and get them to the table before you start. These items are:

• 2 elastic bands
• 12 plastic or paper cups
• 2 pairs of shoes with laces
• 2 button up shirts
• 2 zip up jackets
• 2 pillows with pillow cases
• 2 coins of the same size
• 2 resealable bags
• sticky note pad

If you don't have some of these items, just skip those challenges when they come up or take the cards out before the game begins.

BTW - the box says clay, but it has the consistency of Play-doh.

There are 60 challenge cards. Each sculpt it and draw it challenge card will have a time in the corner and that is how long you have to complete the challenge. Times range between 30 seconds and 1 minute and 30 seconds. Here are some examples:

• Sculpt It - When the challenge is complete, those who did not participate with vote on the best creation. That person will win the card. There is no picture to look at on the card to copy.
• A sea creature
• Your favorite dessert
• An angry snowman
• Draw It - When the challenge is complete, those who did not participate with vote on the best drawing. That person will win the card. There is a picture on the card so you can just copy it if you want to.
•  A skateboarding dog
• A pepperoni pizza slice
• A snake holding an ice cream cone
• Do It - The person who is done first is the winner and wins the card.
•  Button Up Challenge - Each player places a button up shirt (unbuttoned on the table). The first player to put on their shirt and button it completely wins. (Or button it on the table.)
• Stack Cup Challenge - Each player gets a stack of six disposable plastic or paper cups. The first player to stack the cups into a pyrimin and then back into a single stack wins.
• Zip Up Challenge - Each players gets a zip up jacket. The first player to put on the jacket and zip it up all the way wins. (Or zip it on the table.)
• Clay ball challenge - Each player gets a can of clay. You have 30 seconds to make as many 1/2 inch balls as you can. The most balls wins.

As indispensable as you think your thumbs are, as you play and complete challenges you will find that with practice you may actually get better and better at doing things.

Object:
Be the first person to earn three cards by completing challenges.  

Set up:
Shuffle the deck of challenge cards and put them where everyone can reach them. Collect the items that you will need and bring them to the table (as mentioned above). Each person gets a thumb wrap for their dominant hand. Wrap it around and velcro it in place.

Play:
The first player flips over the top card and then chooses an opponent. Both players put on the thumb wraps and waits for the signal to go. Someone sets a timer (you can just use a cell phone for this). Most Do It challenges are not timed, first player done is the winner. On go, both players go to work. After the winner is declared, that person is awarded the card and then they flip the next card and choose an opponent for the next game. The winner of each game goes on to play the next round.  

There's a video on Amazon on how to play if you're interested. Click the game at the bottom of this post.

Try this:

• Make it more challenging by allowing only a certain number of fingers to be involved, such as only two fingers. Tuck the other fingers into the wrap. Even the playing field by making older players use fewer fingers than younger (or less coordinated) players.
• Make up your own challenges using household items.
• Eliminate the timer if necessary to let everyone have time to complete the challenge.
• Skip the game, just have fun using the challenge cards and completing the challenges.
• Work on spatial relations, eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity, pencil grasp, tool use, motor planning, visual motor integration, simple drawing/copying, visualization, process skills, executive functioning skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation 

In the box: 4 no-thumb bands, 2 cans of sculpting clay, 2 drawing pads, 60 challenge cards

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

Kit & Caboodle

Kit & Caboodle - Similar to Yahtzee with a nature theme.

Similar to Yahtzee, Kit & Caboodle is a dice game of sets and science. It comes with a colorful dice cup, which I always set aside on dice games so that we can get the benefit of cupping the hand(s) while shaking the dice. Dice games that require repeatedly cupping the hand to shake and throw dice can help strengthen and develop the palmar (hand) arches.

The pictures on the dice include words/letters, a joker, winged animals, shells, birds, reptiles, insects, mammals, snails and space objects. The sets on the score sheets are divided into either kits or caboodles.

Object:
Have the highest score at the end of the game (after 14 rounds).

Set up:
Give each player a score sheet and a pencil. Place the dice nearby.

Play:
The first player throws the dice. The goal is to match the dice thrown to one of the categories on the score sheet. The player will set aside any dice thrown that he wants to keep. It he needs to, he can throw the dice up to three times in one turn to try and make the match that he wants. Sometimes he won't get the full match he needs. Either way, the player must score one category per turn, whether it is a number or a zero.  There are 14 spaces on the score sheet for each game. Play until all 14 spaces have a score before adding and announcing the winner.

Try this:

• Play with only the upper section if playing with younger kids. Each of the six sides are listed (monkey, rainbow, etc.) and the player gets three chances to see how many of each item he can throw. Play all six categories and end the game.
• Skip the game. Pick a category from the score sheet. Rotate each die in the fingertips until they all match the pictures in the category.
• Shape the palm before shaking the dice by putting a small ball or round object in the hand and forming the hand around it. Do that for both hands, drop the dice into the player's hand, and ask him to  place the other hand over the top and shake.
• Ask the player to shake at least 10 times, to hear them dance, or really mix them up good, etc. This will keep the palms in that position a little longer. 
• Work on visual discrimination, visual closure, spatial relations, eye-hand coordination, distal finger control, palmar arch development, in-hand manipulation, executive functioning skills, process skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 6 dice, dice shaker, score pad

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