Homemade Finger Games!

Two quick-to-make little games to play at home, preschool or in an OT session.  Finger Soccer and a finger obstacle course!

Finger Soccer

What do you need?
Black Felt
Scissors
Stickers
Small ball

What do you need to do?
1. Cut out some felt soccer shirts.
2. Cut two slits for fingers,
3. Decorate each shirt with a colour sticker and get a ball.  

Ready to play in less than 5 minutes!

This is a fun little game that encourages finger isolation, strength and coordination. The fingers tucked underneath need to be stabilised so that the index and third fingers can be used. Fingers can "kick" the ball to another person and defend their own goal. 

Finger Obstacle Course

What do you need?
Lid from a shoe box.
Felt
Glue
Scissors
Hole Punch
Wool
Coloured stickers

What do you need to do?
1. Cut out and glue a piece of felt to fit the shoe box lid.
2. Place holes around the lid on all four sides.
3. Secure the wool to a corner hole and weave in one direction across the lid. Then weave the wool in the opposite direction to form the squares.
4. Place colour stickers in each square so that it is either next to or diagonally opposite one of the same colour.

You can nominate which fingers need to participate in the obstacle course.  I get kids to either use their "pinchy fingers" (thumb and index finger) or their "walking" fingers (2nd and 3rd fingers). They have to get from one end of the lid to the other only touching a certain colour.  We try to avoid touching the wool ... but that gets tricky.

Just like finger soccer, this game promotes finger isolation, strength, coordination and separation of the two sides of the hand (where some fingers are used and others are stabilised).

These games are really simple to make. They are great to warm up fingers ready to do other fine motor activities, handwriting or cutting. 

Did you read last week's article about heavy work finger activities that need no equipment and preparation?

Would your child like to play finger soccer or challenge their way through an obstacle course?

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