Kidoki Cat's Cradle

7 Classic Sting Games

Wow your friends with these fun string games!
(7 different ones to learn with varying difficulty)

How many can you master?

 

Handy Hand Diagram

Cat's Cradle

1. Left Little Finger
2. Left Ring Finger
3. Left Middle Finger
4. Left Index Finger
5. Left Thumb
6. Right Thumb
7. Right Index Finger
8. Right Middle Finger
9. Right Ring Finger
10. Right Little Finger

1. Loop the string around the back of both hands leaving your thumbs out.

2.Repeat step one so the string is wrapped around the back of your hands twice.

3.Using your right middle finger, go under the string on your left palm and then do the same with your left middle finger on your right palm.

4. Pull the strings apart and this shape is the Cat’s Cradle and the start of the game.

5. Your friend grabs an X on each side with their thumb and index finger and pulls them out, around and under the bottom string...

6....Then carefully pushes their hands up through the center as you slowly release your grip and remove your hands.

7. Your friend pulls the string taut, opens up their thumb and index finger and the Soldier’s Bed has been made! 

8. Now you are going to pinch the two X's like this picture.

9. Keeping hold of those strings, pull them out, go under the outer string, taking both hands up through the center. Your friend then releases their grip on the strings.

10. Pull the string taut and spread your thumb and index finger to form the Candle.

11.Now your friend plucks the two middle strings with their little fingers, crossing one string over the other creating a star. Keeping hold of the string with their little fingers... 

12. ...Your friend pinches their thumb and index fingers together, puts them inside the two triangles and up through the center. Your friend takes the string, opens up their thumb and index finger and forms the Manger. 

13.Now you grab the two X’s from the sides and pull them out, around and over the bottom string and go up through the center. Your friend then releases their grip on the strings.

14. Your friend pinches the two X’s like the picture. Keeping hold of those strings, pull them out, go over then under the outer string, taking both hands up through the center.

15. Your friend pulls the string tight, opens up their thumb and index finger and makes Cat’s Eyes. 

16. Now you hook the strings marked above with your little fingers and pull the strings out, creating a star. 

17. Keeping hold of the strings with your little fingers, pinch your thumb and index finger together, put them inside the triangles and up through the center.
Your friend then releases their grip on the strings.

18. Pull the string taut and spread your thumb and index finger and you are back at the Manger.
See how long you can keep the game going by repeating the shapes. Who will end up doing which move this time?

Cup & Saucer

1. Start with the basic loop over your little fingers and thumbs. 

2. Pick up each palm string with your index finger on each side

3. Pull strings taut.

4.Bend you thumbs over the nearest index finger strings.

5. Then under the far index finger strings

6. Pull your thumbs back to their normal position. You should now have two loops on each thumb. 

7. Place your index fingers on the top thumb string. 

8. Remove the bottom thumb strings by rotating your thumbs underneath it leaving the top thumb strings in place.
Tip: use your mouth to lift the bottom thumb string over your thumbs if you find rotating your thumbs difficult.

9.Drop the strings on your little fingers and pull strings tight to make an upside down teacup.

10. Rotate your hands forward so your thumbs point up, now you have a cup & saucer.

Eiffel Tower

1. Start by making cup & saucer

2. Grab the string between your thumbs with your teeth

3. Drop the loops on your thumbs and slowly lower your hands to make the Eiffel Tower. 

Jet Plane

1. Place the double loop around your thumb, making sure the loop in front of the thumb is shorter than the back loop. With your other hand, hold the long loop with your last three fingers.

2.With your right hand, use your thumb and index finger to reach into the short loop over your thumb and pull taut, creating a triangle.

3. With your right hand thumb and index finger, open the two strings in the middle by going under, and then stretch them out. 

4.Your last three right fingers will hold the shape in place as you reveal the jet plane by pulling taut.

Cat's Whiskers

1. Start with the basic loops over your little fingers and thumbs.

2. Pick up each palm string with your index finger on each side. 

3. Pull strings taut, then drop your thumbs.

4.Take your thumbs under all the strings and pull back the last string.

5. With your thumb go over the nearest index finger string and under the next string and pull your thumbs back.

6. Drop your little finger strings and pull your string tight.

7. Take your little fingers and go over the first string closest to them and under the next string and pull back.

8. Release your thumb strings and you have cat's whiskers. 

 

Witch's Broom

1. Start with the basic loop over your little fingers and thumbs. 

2. Put your right index finger under the string and your opposite palm. Don't pull you hands all the way back. 

3. Twist this new loop twice, by rotating your right index finger. 

4. Pull strings taut. 

5. Put your left index finger under the palm string on your right hand, reaching through the loop and pull strings taut. 

6. Drop the strings on your thumb and little finger of your right hand and pull your hands apart to make the witch's broom.

Star

1. Start with the basic loop over your little fingers and thumbs.

2. Pick up each palm string with your index finger on each side.

3. Pull strings taut. 

4. Bend your thumbs over the nearest index finger strings.

5. Then under the far index finger strings

6. Pull your thumbs back to their normal position. You should now have two loops on each thumb. 

7. Place your index fingers on the top thumb string. 

8. Remove the bottom thumb strings by rotating your thumbs underneath it leaving the top thumb strings in place. Tip: use your mouth to lift the bottom thumb string over your thumbs if you find rotating your thumbs difficult.

9. Drop the strings on your little fingers and pull strings tight to make an upside down teacup.

10. Put your little fingers under the top strings and pull back to their normal position.

11. Drop the strings from your thumbs. 

12.Then take both of your thumbs and pick up the nearest little finger string and pull back.

13. Drop the string on one of your little fingers and here you have your star.