Many parents remember the fun of hand clapping games played at home or on long car rides. They're easy to play anywhere - the only equipment needed is your hands, one more person and a song. Many of these games were created by children on a playground. A child's first hand game of "Clap Hands" or "Patty Cake" teaches coordination and early literacy skills.
A Sailor Went to Sea is a good warm up game, with a simple rhyme and clapping rhythm as follows. It's fun to start of slowly and then see how fast you can go, still keeping the rhythm.
Facing your partner and clapping to the words-
Start by clapping your own hands together. Then alternate that between clapping your partner's right hand, then your partners left hand , then both hands 3 times for sea or see - clapping your own hands together between each.
A sailor went to sea sea sea
To see what he could see see see
But all that he could see see see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea sea sea
Click here for more classic hand games with video instructions to play while on vacation, or at home as the days cool down.
Here are some of books on games that are currently available now at the library.
If you're happy and you know it! ~ Cabrera
Miss Mary Mack : a hand-clapping rhyme ~ Hoberman
The Usborne nursery Rhyme Songbook ~ Hooper
Children's Traditional Games : Games from 137 Countries and Cultures ~ Sierra
This Little Piggy Lap Songs, Finger Plays, Clapping Games, and Pantomime Rhymes ~ Yolen
Visit our website to search the catalog for these books and more to place an order for curbside pick-up.
Look for these books and more on Overdrive and hoopla.
Miss Mary Mack ~ Bell
A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea ~ Bell
Classic Playground Games ~ Brewer
Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's Stories ~ Ford
100 Playground Games For Children ~ Quick
Look for more news on upcoming programs from the library on Monday!
Be safe and healthy!
Vicki DiSanto-Children's Librarian
&
Beth Levine- Library Assistant
Somers Library
Funding for programs provided by Friends of the Somers Library