In a world where kids’ daily life involves electronic devices like mobile phones or ipads, it feels like a long time ago when hand-clapping games were popular.
It is said that clapping games can help kids think better and move better. When you play with a friend, it can also help you get better at talking to people. Once the child starts doing really well, playing with more friends makes it more fun and mentally stimulating.
If you want to teach your kid some old-school clapping game, check out these classic hand-clapping games!
1. Patty Cake
Patty Cake, or Pat-A-Cake, is a super simple hand-clapping game to play. It does not have a lot of fancy moves, making it perfect for little kids.
This hand clapping rhyme goes as
“Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Pat it and prick it and mark it with ‘B,’ Put it in the oven for the baby and me.”
2. Miss Mary Mack
Miss Mary Mack, dressed in black, had silver buttons down her back. It was a super fun hand-clapping game that kids loved playing in the ’80s and ’90s. Just cross your hands, tap your thighs, clap together, and high-five your partner to the beat!
The entire rhyme can be found online.
3. Double, Double
The game is all about clapping and fist bumps. Stand or sit across from your partner. Both of you move your hands together at the same time. If you say ‘double,’ give a fist bump. And if you say ‘this,’ clap your hands. Likewise, if you say ‘that,’ clap with the back of your hand. Once you’ve got the hang of it, try to speed up!
“Double, double, this, this,
Double, double, that, that,
Double this, double that,
Double, double, this, that.”
4. Pepper
“I drink Dr. Pepper don’t you see
It’s the perfect taste for me
The original taste you know.
It’s raining Peppers everywhere I go…..
I’m a Pepper, he’s a Pepper, she’s a Pepper, we’re a Pepper!
Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too?
Dr. Pepper…”
This game is great for two friends. Put your hands together, then swish each other’s hands, and use your right hand to clap your friend’s right hand. Switch hands and clap, then tap both hands with your friend’s. Do it again.
5. Sevens
This game is a bit advanced and a serious game that requires you to focus on the rhythm.
It starts by hitting the table seven times. Then, repeat. The next move is two rounds of hit, clap, hit, clap, hit, clap, hit. After that, it’s hit, clap, click, hit, clap, click, hit for two rounds. The final maneuver before repeating is to hit, cross your hands over, and hit, hit, clap, click, clap, hit.
6. Long-Legged Sailor
“Have you ever, ever, ever,
In your long-legged life,
Seen a long-legged sailor,
And his long-legged wife?
No, I’ve never, never, never,
In my long-legged life,
Seen a long-legged sailor,
And his long-legged wife.”
Two people start by clapping your hands, and then cross over both hands three times while saying ever, ever, ever. After that, clap each other’s hands and then your own hands. Whenever a word is repeated three times, cross over your hands three times. Keep doing the sequence over and over.
7. Lemonade Crunchy Ice
“Lemonade, Crunchy ice
Sip it once, Sip it twice
Lemonade, Crunchy ice
Beat it once, Beat it twice
Turn around (Turn around here)
Touch the ground (Touch the ground here)
FREEZE”
It’s a fun little clapping game! You clap down with your right hand and up with your left hand. Then you clap your friend’s hands and clap your own hands three times. After that, turn around and touch the ground. Finally, say “freeze” to each other. If someone moves, they lose!
8. Four White Horses
“Four white horses on a river.
Hey, hey, hey, up tomorrow.
Up tomorrow is a rainy day.
Come on, join in our shadow play.
Shadow play is a ripe banana.
Hey, hey, hey, up tomorrow.
Up tomorrow is a rainy day.”
This clapping game can be played with four friends. Clap the hands of the friends next to you, then clap the hands of the friend across from you. Clap once on the side and twice in front. You can also tap your feet to the beat and make the game more fun.
9. Bim Bum
“Bim bum bim bum, biddy biddy bum,
Biddy bum, biddy biddy bum, bim bum.
Bim bum, biddy biddy bum,
Biddy bum, biddy biddy bum, bim bum.”
You can choose to sit or stand, and start by tapping your thighs when you say ‘biddy.’ Next, snap your fingers when you say ‘bum’ and clap your hands when you say ‘bim.’
10. Stella Ella
“Stella Ella Ola
Stella Ella Ola,
Clap, clap, clap
Singing es, chico, chico
Chico, chico, clap, clap
Es chico, chico
Baloney, baloney
Cheese and macaroni
So 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!”
Stella Ella Ola, or Quack Dilly Oso, is a game where you make a circle and clap hands while singing a song. You put your hand over your neighbor’s hand and clap on each beat. Keep repeating until the song is done.
Hand-clapping games aren’t just fun for kids – they also help them develop important skills! These games can improve coordination, boost social skills, and offer more than just entertainment.
Teaching young kids hand games is super fun and can make their handwriting and writing skills better. Plus, it can help them relax and feel happier. Hand games can also teach kids how to concentrate and stay alert.
These activities aid children in developing motor skills, cognitive ability, physical exercise and more over it boosts confidence.
For more such interesting blogs, Visit Mother’s Pet Kindergarten.
