The Bracelet Hand

Each child wears a bracelet on one hand and tosses beanbags into boxes, first with the bracelet hand and then with the other. It works on laterality and throwing with both hands in a playful way.

How to play

1. Put a yarn bracelet on the hand each child draws with and hand out one beanbag each (2 min).
2. Play "the bracelet hand waves hello" and "the other hand hides" so they can tell them apart (3 min).
3. In groups facing the boxes, toss with the bracelet hand, underhand and then overhand (3 min).
4. Now the bracelet goes to sleep: toss with the other hand, slowly and from closer (4 min).
5. Move the bracelet to the other hand and finish by tossing with whichever hand each child likes best (2 min).

Rules

• Before tossing, look at your bracelet.
• Toss once the child in front has picked up.
• With the sleepy hand, toss from closer, no rush.
• Pick up your beanbag and go to the back of the line.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited use of one arm: the child works with the hand they can move and uses the other just to push the beanbag off a table into the box.
• Visual impairment: use a jingle bell bracelet so the child can feel and hear it; the box makes a sound on a hit.
• Autism: if yarn on the wrist is bothersome, use a sticker on the back of the hand.

Learning goals

• Tell the two hands apart through play.
• Throw with both the dominant and non-dominant hand.
• Build confidence using the less skilled hand.

Equipment for a class of 25

• yarn bracelets or hair ties: 25
• beanbags: 25
• cardboard boxes: 6

Teacher tip

Skip "right" and "left" with the little ones: the bracelet is the reference. Put bracelets on before going outside so you don't lose time.

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