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Cat's Cradle Hand Trick Directions

String games are a fun, simple way for two people to play something together. String shapes are fun to make and also provide educational and motor exercises for excellent hand eye coordination. The basic cat's cradle is one of the easiest string shapes to create and is the starting point for many other tricks and shapes. This trick requires the participation of two people. In general, anyone over the age of six should be able to complete the cat's cradle trick. Older children may get more enjoyment out of the process. After mastering the trick, it provides hours of fun.

Things You'll Need

Long string
Two people

Instructions

- 1
  Tie the ends of a long piece of string together in a knot to make a large string circle. Place your hands through the string circle, but do not place your thumbs through. The string should rest on your thumbs. Pull the string taut, but not tight.
- 2
  Loop the string around your hands so that there is a complete loop around both of your hands. There should be no twists in the string between your hands. It should be as open as it was before.
- 3
  Place your middle finger through the loop on one hand and pull tight. Repeat for the other side. You will now have a string pattern that looks similar to a cradle. Two flat sides make up the top and two diagonal sides make up the bottom.
- 4
  Locate the areas of the string where it crosses to make an "X" shape. Have the helper pinch the two X pieces together. Pinch one side together with one hand, and the other side with the other hand. Have the helper pull the pinched sections apart until the string becomes taut.
- 5
  Pull the pinched ends of the string down through the other sections of string (the helper does this step). The helper then scoops his fingers up through the middle of the strings. The original holder now pulls her fingers out of the string. The cats cradle now sits on the helper's hands.

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