Game with hand prints

Age group

3-5 yrs

Number of children:

3-7 ppl

Theme: Discovery

Developmental area: Communication and socialization, Detection, perception, sensory integration, Motion and motor skills

Areas it develops: focusing on one-another, coordination of the two body halves, fine-motor skills, sensory integration, regulation, following rules, following rythm.

This is a fun game that includes the whole group. Painting the palms and soles is always a special occasion especially if it’s paired with a rythm game and creating something together.

 

Ingredients

  • a big piece of wrapping paper or a white bedsheet,
  • wide paintbrushes
  • colourful paints

Paint you own hands

Instructions:

Paint your left hand red with your right hand and your right hand blue with your left hand.

If there is a child who doesn’t want to get dirty get a pair of plastic slippers. They should be the ones painting it or holding it so that there is a chance for the paintbrush to touch their skin.

Print your hands

Instructions:

Everyone should paint their hands some colour and then sit in a row. The first child should place their first and then second hand then the next child does the same and so on and so forth.

Cross hands

Instructions:

Sit in a cross handed manner, so your hand should go under the arm of another child. The task is the same but extra attention is needed to follow the order because of the crossed hands. We have to focus on each other, following the rythm, applying pressure: make it strong enough so the print is complete, but not too strong.

Finger to finger

Instructions:

Let the children paint their other hand with the better one. Their better hands will be painted by the adult, while naming their fingers. Once they are covered with paint children should try to place their fingers on the paper from thumb to pinkie. It’s like a work-out for the hands and fingers.

Pro tip 2: Getting kids more comfortable with paint, try helping them get used to touching the squishy texture while keeping their hands clean. First, squeeze paint onto a large surface of plastic wrap, then top with another layer of plastic wrap. Now the child can use their hands on the paint texture without getting dirty! Still experiencing some tactile defensiveness? Try using a brush or stamps on the plastic wrap surface for beginners.

Child turn

Instructions:

Now childrend should tell which finger to paint and to what colour.

Changing colours

Instructions:

After pressing a full palm print on the paper paint the palm again, but this time a different colour. Ask them to try to press their palms again precisely on the same print so that it changes colour. Make sure to articulate the change: I placed yellow on blue so I got green. The same can be done with soles. This is a great way to improve balance too.