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Stephanie Harms

HANDS: A challenging and educational game for older children

Author: Stephanie Harms-Heijne

Pediatric physiotherapist

Introduction

The original HANDS game is a fast, fun and challenging game for older children. It is necessary to read the rules carefully in advance. This is because everyone plays the game at the same time and therefore multiple things can happen at the same time while playing the game. HANDS can be played from 3 players, but in my opinion the game is most fun when you play with more than 3 players.

A point of attention: right-handed gestures

The game cards only show hand gestures for right-handed people or for 2 hands. For players who are left-handed, this can sometimes be a bit difficult, because they have to mirror the gesture. It would have been nicer if there had also been left-handed gestures. This so that the manual dexterity (fine motor skills) can also be practiced with the left hand.

Fun variations for 2 players

In the blog below I discuss some fun variations that I use in my treatment and that you can use when playing with only two people.  

1. Find the same

  • In this first variation it is important that four cards are placed open in the middle of the table. Both players receive a pile of cards. They may place these alternately. When your card matches one of the cards in the middle of the table, you place your card on top of the card in the middle and make the hand gesture as quickly as possible.  

2. Memory

  • Play the game memory, when there is a match all players have to make the corresponding hand gesture. Whoever has the most matches in the end wins the game.

3. Halli-Galli variant

  • The players both have their own pile of hand gestures. For this you use 4 of the same hand gesture. You do have to pay attention to which gestures you choose for playing this version of the game, because there are not four copies of each gesture. It is your own choice how many different hand gestures you use. In my experience, the game is more fun from 3 or more different ones. Turn over the top card of your own covered pile in turn, when this is the same as the gesture that is already on the table, it is about who makes the hand gesture the fastest. Whoever manages to do this wins all the cards that are on the pile. Whoever has the most cards at the end of the game wins  

4. Race against the clock

  • Each person has a pile of hand gestures. It's very simple, whoever can make the most correct gestures in one minute wins the game.

5. Mirroring

  • All single hand cards show the right hand. To practice spatial orientation, ask the child to act out the hand gesture correctly with the left hand. How many hand gestures does the child get right in 30 seconds?

Conclusion

HANDS is a versatile game that not only provides fun, but also promotes skills such as fine motor skills, spatial orientation and reaction time. Although the game cards mainly contain right-handed gestures, there are plenty of creative variations that allow you to make the game challenging and educational even with fewer players. Whether you play for the challenge, to develop skills or just for fun: HANDS offers a unique gaming experience that involves everyone at the table.

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Home / HANDS: A challenging and educational game for older children

Hands! hands moving game

White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
White Goblin games Hands! handenbeweegspel
Home / HANDS: A challenging and educational game for older children

Hands! hands moving game

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Hands up! Hands down! No hands! Thumbs up! Point to the sky!
Playing cards with images of hands in different positions. Ideal to really get busy with your hands and practice different positions.
The whole thing can also be played as a game:
Talk with your hands instead of words and try to figure out whose hand is saying the same thing as yours. But watch out for the player who talks with both hands... You better do what he says!
It's a hilarious reaction game.
There are no turns, everyone plays at the same time all the time.
Lots of interaction, points are scored by portraying the same cards. Are you the last one to portray both hands of cards? Then you get a minus point! So pay attention!