Birthday Chant and Jump Rope Rhyme – Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums
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Birthday Chant and Jump Rope Rhyme – Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009My daughter and her friend Marisa taught me this birthday rhyme in the car the other day. They chant this in class to talk about birthdays and months of the year.
Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums
Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums,
Tell me when your birthday comes?January, February, March, April,
May, June, July, August, September,
October, November, December?Some people only chant the first 2 lines and then another person will answer with their birthday.
This is also a jump rope rhyme. Two kids hold a long jump rope and swing it around in a circle. They chant the rhyme. You jump in on your birthday month. Then the girls start counting 1, 2, 3, etc. until they reach the number of the day you were born on. Then you jump out.
The other way to play the jump rope game is to skip the numbers. You still jump “in” when your birthday month is called. The other kids then repeat the rhyme and you jump “out” when you hear your birthday month the second time around.
Enjoy!
Mama Lisa
Can Someone Help with the Lap Rhyme, “Run run horsey with your long hair”?
Friday, August 21st, 2009Karla wrote:
Hi, My name is Karla Wass.
Recently my grandmother has passed, and as a child she would place us (15 grandkids + 10 great grandkids) on her knee and sing to us. Unfortunately, none of us could remember the name and she left so suddenly we were unable to ask her it. I would love to have the lyrics to the song or even some help finding how to sing, well just to know the words that she was saying would be great. She did sing it to us in English, and what i remember is “run run horsey with your long hair, the faster the horsey runs the short goes his hair”. She always said they would sing this while they were sewing.
If you are not able to help i understand, after searching the web and talking with some family members no one can properly sing this song, Her service is next Tuesday and she will be laid to rest with our grand father the following Saturday.
I appreciate and assistance thank you for your time.
If anyone can help Karla, please let us know in the comments below. (Even if it’s after the date of the service, I’m sure Karla will be glad to find the song any time.)
We appreciate it.
Mama Lisa
Handclapping Rhyme – Stella Ella Ola and Quack Dilly Oso with a YouTube Video
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009Uly sent me a handclapping rhyme called “Quack Dilly Oso” which she said many people actually know as “Stella Ella Ola”. Here are the words to “Quack Dilly Oso” that Uly sent me:
Quack Dilly Oso
Quack dilly oso, quack quack qua-ack,
Saaaanyorita*, rita rita rita, velo!
Velo! Velo, velo, velo, velo! One two three FOUR.*Uly wrote, “I know the word is senorita, but we never said it that way.”
Here are the instructions Uly sent me to go with the rhyme:
To Play with 2 People: One has their hands on top and the other on the bottom. If you do it right, the person who started on top is the one who ends on top. You just go up and down until the end. On four, the person on top tries to slap the hands of the person on the bottom, and if they succeed, they win.
To Play with More People: You stand in a circle, right hand on top of the left hand of the person to your right and you go around clockwise clapping the hand of the person on your left with your right hand.
Uly wrote, “My sister and I singlehandedly brought this game to the town of Wavre when we were children!”
*****
Here’s the rhyme called “Stella Ella Ola” followed by a YouTube showing how it’s played:Stella Ella Ola
Stella ella ola, clap clap clap,
Say yes, chicko chicko, chicko chicko chap,
Yes, chicko chicko, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello,
Say one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!In the version in the video, if the person’s hand is slapped after “nine”, they’re out, if they can move their hand out of the way just before being slapped, the other person is out. (Other people are welcome to comment below on their rules for being “out”.)
Here’s another video of “Stella Elle Ola”, where they only clap to 5. It includes a 2 person version (different from the instructions above):
Thanks for teaching that rhyme with us Uly!
If anyone would like to share a different version of either of these rhymes, feel free to include it in the comments below.
Enjoy everyone!
Mama Lisa
Lap Rhymes to Play with Babies
Thursday, July 24th, 2008I received a letter from Hungary from Mrs. Török looking for English rhymes to play with children sitting on laps. She wrote that she’s looking for “British, American or Canadian short riddles or rhymes which we don’t have to sing but they can be played while the children are sitting on the mothers’ legs. These rhymes would be played with babies.”
This Little Piggy is probably the most well-known rhyme that people do with babies in the English speaking world.
This Little Piggy
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed at home,
This little piggy ate roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went…
“Wee wee wee wee wee”
All the way home…As you say each line you wiggle each of the baby’s toes, starting with the big toe and wiggling each toe until you’ve done all five. On the last two lines you tickle the child up the leg – as if the “piggy” is running home.
Round and Round the Garden is especially popular in England…
Round and Round the Garden (also known as Teddy Bear)
Round and round the garden…
(Run your index finger around child’s palm.)
Like a teddy bear.One step, two step…
(Walk your fingers up the child’s arm.)Tickle you under there!
(Tickle under armpit!)Open, Shut Them is popular in the US…
Open, Shut Them
Open, shut them.
Open, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap.Open, shut them
Open, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.Creep them, creep them,
Creep them, creep them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin.Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in.Open and close your hands when you sing “Open, shut them” and then follow the words to the song and make the corresponding hand movements while you sing. On “do not let them in” hide your hands behind your back.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is popular around the world. Children point to each body part as they are listed. Older kids usually point by themselves. On babies, you can help them touch each part with their hands…
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.How Big is Baby
This is a simple game where you say “How big is (Child’s name)?” Then in a high voice you answer, “So big!” while gently putting the baby’s arms up in the air.
Little kids love that one.
Here’s one to recite while gentle tapping the bottom of the baby’s feet…
Shoe a Little Horse
Shoe a little horse,
Shoe a little mare,
But let the little colt go
Bare, bare, bare.Here’s one to say while gently touching the different parts of the baby’s face…
Brow brinky
Brow brinky,
Eye winky,
Chin choppy,
Nose noppy,
Cheek cherry,
Mouth merry.With the above rhyme you can touch the baby’s hand to your face while you wiggle your brows, wink your eyes, move your jaw up and down, wriggle your nose, blow out your cheeks and smile.
While saying the following rhyme you can help the child make the associated motions…
Two Little Hands Go Clap, Clap, Clap
Two little hands go clap, clap, clap,
Two little feet go tap, tap, tap,
Two little legs kick high, high, high,
Two little lips go kiss, kiss, kiss,
Two little arms go hug, hug, hug,
Two little arms wave bye, bye, bye.If anyone would like to add any lap rhymes in the comments below, we’d love to learn more!
Enjoy and have fun!
Mama Lisa
UPDATE: Check out my next post for Horse Trotting Rhymes to Play with Older Kids!
Lemonade – A Handclapping Rhyme
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008Here’s a rhyme my 1st grade daughter just taught me. You can hear her reciting it by clicking on the mp3 below. The actions that are done with the rhyme are in parentheses…
Lemonade, Crunchy Ice
Lemonade*
(clap, clap, clap)
Crunchy ice*
(clap, clap, clap)
Sip it once*
(clap, clap, clap)
Sip it twice*
(clap, clap, clap)
Turn around (turn around)
Touch the ground (touch the ground)
Kick your brother out of town!
And stomp! (jump)*You can play this with two people. While you’re saying these lines you clap each other’s hands in the following way: one person’s left hand is clapping down and their right hand is clapping up while the second person faces the first and does the opposite. Then switch the hand that’s clapping up to clap down, and the one clapping down to clap up.
Searching for a Nursery Rhyme that Begins with Z!
Sunday, January 20th, 2008We’ve been very busy here, redesigning Mama Lisa’s House of Nursery Rhymes, which features traditional English Mother Goose. The new design will break down the rhymes alphabetically. Each letter of the alphabet will have its own page – and that page will have all of the rhymes we have that begin with that letter. This will allow us to expand the site more than we can now.
The new site will also have French and Spanish translations for many of the nursery rhymes.
One problem we’ve run into is that we can’t find any traditional nursery rhymes that begin with Z! It’s unfortunate, because that would leave the Z page empty.
Some sites solve this problem by posting a song called Zum Gali Gali. However, Zum Gali Gali is not a traditional English nursery rhyme. It’s a Hebrew song from Israel.
If anyone can think of any English nursery rhymes that start with Z – it can be from any English speaking country – please let me know! You can comment below or email me directly.
Thanks in advance.
-Mama Lisa
American School Rhyme
Thursday, January 17th, 2008My daughter often comes home chanting rhymes that she learns in school or on the bus. Being Mama Lisa, I quickly jot down the ones I’ve never heard before. Here’s an odd one she chanted the other day…
First is the worst
Second is the best
Third is the one with the hairy chest.I don’t know exactly what it means, but I thought it was funny!
-Mama Lisa
UPDATE: Keri wrote in to the comments with these additional lines…
Fourth is the King
Fifth is the Queen
Sixth is the one with the washing machine.
A Modern American Take on “What’s Your Name? Mary Jane”
Sunday, September 30th, 2007The popular rhyme What’s Your Name? Mary Jane goes back to England over 100 years ago.
With the beginning of the new school year, I’ve learnt a new version from a young American schoolgirl.
The funny thing about this one is that it refers to Michael Jackson, but she has no idea who he is! I wonder how many generations of elementary kids this version has gone through. How long ago has it been since Michael Jackson’s been “In”? I’d imagine about 15-20 years.
Here’s the version I just heard, with an mp3 recording…
MP3 What’s Your Name? Mary Jane
What’s Your Name? Mary Jane
What’s Your Name?
Mary Jane
Where do you live?
Down the drain
What’s your number?
Cucumber
What do you eat?
Pigs feet
What do you drink?
Pink ink
What do you wear?
Michael Jackson’s underwear!The last line gets a big giggle from the kids. Not because it’s Michael Jackson – but because it’s underwear! I guess any mention of that subject with elementary school children will get a laugh!
- Mama Lisa
Does Anyone Know a Nursery Song “Zebra, Zebra at the Zoo”?
Saturday, July 28th, 2007Mirka wrote:
Hello from Slovakia! I found your super page in web, it is very special, nice and helpful. Thank you! Can you help me with a nursery rhyme: ZEBRA, ZEBRA AT (IN) THE ZOO? I cannot find the words anywhere. Thanks! Have a nice day! Love from Mirka
If anyone can help with this song, please comment below or email me.
Thanks!
Lisa
UPDATE: Check out the comments below for the rhyme! If anyone knows where this comes from – please let us know!
A Poem and Song called “The New Moon”
Thursday, March 8th, 2007It’s always a happy day when I can answer a reader’s question about a song, nursery rhyme or poem. I was recently asked by Marion to help her find “a nursery rhyme my mother used to say to me in the very early 1930’s. Don’t know the name, but the first couple of lines are:
‘Oh Mother how pretty the moon looks tonight
She was never so cunning before,
With her two little arms so sharp and so bright,
I hope she won’t grow any more.’The end of the rhyme was:
‘I’d sit in the middle and hold by both hands
And on the next rainbow come home.’Have become a grandmother at last and would so love to tell and teach this to my sweet granddaughter.”
I was able to find the words to this poem. It’s called The New Moon. The poem was first printed in 1832 in a book by Eliza Lee Follen called Little Songs. It was either written by Eliza Lee Follen, or it was traditional at the time she published it. She also printed The Three Little Kittens in the same book (another nursery rhyme which many people attribute to her). It may also simply have been traditional at the time.
Here’s the version of The New Moon from Follen’s book Little Songs:
THE NEW MOON
Dear mother, how pretty
The moon looks to-night!
She was never so cunning before;
Her two little horns
Are so sharp and so bright,
I hope she’ll not grow any more.If I were up there
With you and my friends,
I’d rock in it nicely you see;
I’d sit in the middle
And hold by both ends;
O, what a bright cradle ‘twould be!I would call to the stars
To keep out of the way,
Lest we should rock over their toes,
And there I would rock
Till the dawn of the day,
And see where the pretty moon goes.And there we would stay
In the beautiful skies,
And through the bright clouds we would roam;
We would see the sun set,
And see the sun rise,
And on the next rainbow come home.That’s a lovely poem! People eventually started singing it as a song in the southern United States. The lyrics to the “song” version are close to this:
How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight
Oh, Mother, how pretty the moon looks tonight
She was never so cunning before
Her two little horns are too sharp and so bright
I hope they’ll not grow any more.If I were up there with you and the moon
We’d rock in it nightly, you see.
We’d sit in the middle and hold to both ends
Oh, what a fine cradle ‘twould be!We’d call to the stars to get out of our way,
‘Lest we should rock over their toes.
And there we would stay ’til the dawn of the day
And see where the pretty moon goes.If anyone would like to send a recording of this poem being sung or recited, I’d be happy to post it.
Enjoy!
Lisa
The Old Practice in England of Picking Valentines by Lot
Monday, February 13th, 2006Everyone who grows up speaking English knows Roses Are Red. But you may not be familiar with all the versions there are. Of course, there’s the one that’s most well known and that basically sounds like a cliché…
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you!Then there’s the following one, which refers to the old practice in England of picking Valentines by lot. Whoever you picked was your Valentine for the whole year…
Valentine
The rose is red,
The violet’s blue,
The honey’s sweet,
And so are you.Thou art my love
And I am thine,
I drew thee to
My Valentine.The lot was east
And then I drew,
And fortune said
It should be you.There was another tradition that whoever you saw first on Valentine’s Day, not including your family of course, would become your lover. So be careful who’s the first you see on St. Valentine’s Day!
Lisa
The First Recording Ever Was of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Thomas Edison
Tuesday, January 24th, 2006Thomas Edison made the first recording of the human voice in 1877. He recited the nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb. He re-recorded it in 1927 for posterity.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.Listen to Thomas Edison reciting Mary Had a Little Lamb, MP3
Another Five Little Turkeys Finger Play Rhyme
Saturday, November 12th, 2005Here’s another poem for Thanksgiving…
Five Little Turkeys
Five little turkeys standing in a row. (Hold up 5 fingers)
First little turkey said, “I don’t want to grow.” (Hold up 1 finger)
Second little turkey said, “Why do you say that?” (Hold up 2 fingers)
Third little turkey said, “I want to get fat.” (Hold up 3 fingers)
Fourth little turkey said, “Thanksgiving is near.” (Hold up 4 fingers)
Fifth little turkey said, “Yes, that’s what I hear.” (Hold up 5 fingers)
Then the five little turkeys that were standing in a row,
All said together, “Come on, let’s go!” (Move fingers like they’re running away)Come visit Mama Lisa’s Thanksgiving Pages for more Thanksgiving Songs, Poems, Nursery Rhymes and Recipes including another version of 5 Little Turkeys plus the rhyme 5 Little Pilgrims.
Five Little Pilgrims Finger-play Rhyme
Sunday, November 6th, 2005Here’s a Popular Thanksgiving Poem…
Five Little Pilgrims
Five little Pilgrims on Thanksgiving Day. (Hold up 5 fingers)
The first one said, “I’ll have cake if I may.” (Point to the thumb)
The second one said, “I’ll have turkey roasted.” (Point to the index finger)
The third one said, “I’ll have chestnuts toasted.” (Point to the middle finger)
The fourth one said, “I’ll have pumpkin pie.” (Point to the ring finger)
The fifth one said, “Oh, cranberries I spy.” (Point to the pinkie)
But before the Pilgrims ate their turkey and dressing,
They bowed their heads a said a thanksgiving blessing.” (Fold all 5 fingers like they’re pilgrims with their heads down)Here’s Mama Lisa’s Thanksgiving Page with more Thanksgiving Songs, Poems, Nursery Rhymes and Recipes.
Fuzzy Wuzzy with an MP3 Recording
Thursday, October 20th, 2005Fuzzy Wuzzy is one of my favorite rhymes. Here are the lyrics, with an mp3 recording and an illustration.
Fuzzy Wuzzy
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear,
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair,
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t really fuzzy,
Was he?
Come visit Mama Lisa’s House to see more Illustrated Nursery Rhymes.
The ABC Song Sung by My 4 year old Daughter
Saturday, October 8th, 2005My daughter’s close friend moved away to Canada last month. She was talking about how she missed her, so I encouraged her to record a song and email it. She sang the ABC song.
Her friend received the recording within minutes. Her parents wrote back the same day telling us how much she loved it. It was a unique way to be in contact with someone that’s only been possible for the last decade.
Here it is for anyone who’d like to hear the ABC Song
The lyrics…
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y and Z
Now I know my ABC’s, next time won’t you sing with me!
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s House for more Nursery Rhymes and Songs
and
Mama Lisa’s Blog Entry with the ABC’s in French
Fishy, Fishy, In a Brook
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005Toni wrote,
This is a rhyme my son loved…
Fishy, Fishy, In a Brook
Fishy, fishy, in a brook
Daddy caught him with a hook
Mommy fried him in a pan
And baby ate him like a man.I found a different version in The Real Mother Goose Book of American Rhymes…
Fishy, Fishy in the Brook
Fishy, fishy in the brook,
Papa catch him by the hook,
Mommy fry him in the pan
Georgy eat him fast’s can.Then I found another one which goes…
Fishy, Fishy
Fishy, Fishy,
Come bite my hook;
I’ll go captain
And you’ll go cook.-Lisa
Later I found the finger play actions to Fishy, Fishy, In a Brook…
Fishy, fishy, in a brook (put your hands together and move them like a fish swimming)
Daddy caught him with a hook (make it look like you’re casting a line to fish)
Mommy fried him in a pan (pretend you’re stirring food)
And baby ate him like a man. (talk in a deep voice like a man)Please visit Mama Lisa’s House of Nursery Rhymes for more
English and American Nursery Rhymes.
________
Copyright ©2009 by Lisa Yannucci. All rights reserved.
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