Mommy DIY – Thumb Balls For Adopted Kids
I love finding special tools to help us talk to our adopted (and biological) kids about their feelings. Moms, we are wired perfectly to help our kids open up about their feelings and talk about fears, insecurities, challenges, joys, and blessings! My dear friend, Kari Hamilton gave Zoie a thumb ball she made for her younger clients and I instantly knew I needed to share it with you.
A Thumb Ball is super easy to make (at least that’s what Kari told me) and all you need is a soccer ball and permanent markers. There is also an original thumball [trademarked] that you can buy, but what a great DIY to do with your kids together. All you need to do is decide what “theme” you want to make your Thumb Ball.
Zoie’s Thumb ball is All About Feelings and has these questions marked on each soccer square:
- When was the last time you smiled? Laughed?
- You are important.
- There’s nothing you can do to change my love for you.
- What can I do when I am mad?
- Sad
- Silly
- Tell a funny joke
- Name someone you trust?
- Name a time you felt brave?
- Name a way you can calm down?
- Happy
- Mad
- What can I do when I feel sad?
- Name someone you can talk to about your feelings?
- Name a good way to show I am mad.
- What can I do when I am scared?
The questions are limitless … you can write ANY question or feeling word on the soccer ball that you might think best explores what your child may be feeling. If you have adopted an older child, this would be a fantastic way to help them understand what they are feeling in a safe way, while playing a game. I want to bring a few thumb balls with me on my next mission trip to Haiti. What a great way to help the children open up and share feeling, while giving the blessing.
Materials: All you need is a soccer ball and permanent markers to make your very own “Adoption thumb ball”
Q- what is a question/feeling word or blessing statement we can ask our adopted child to put on our “virtual” blog thumb ball? I want to hear your thoughts ….
Ways to Play Thumb Ball:
Ages: 3 to 100
Number of Players: 1 to 100
Goal: To have the most fun thinking and communicating.
Throw it! Catch it! Now, look under your thumb and react to the word, phrase, or graphic found there.
For all Thumball Designs, 4 Initials Ways to React:
- Respond to the panel under your thumb by answering for yourself.
- Respond by asking another player to answer.
- Predict the answer another player would give.
- Once a group has played together several times you can add the challenge of recalling an answer provided by another player on a previous day.
For More Thumball Fun
- Roll, pass, toss, or kick Thumball™ among players.
- Circulate Thumball™ clockwise, counterclockwise or random direction.
- Specify right thumb, left thumb or the finger of your choice to play the game.
- Players can respond to the space themselves or ask another player to respond.
- Select time limits for responses and length of game.
- To add competition, players can earn and/or lose points for each response.
I LOVE this! I can’t wait to see it in action here. The children here have a very hard time talking about their feelings. I hope this is a hit!