You forget about Raffi as you grow up. You lose the hand motions to Miss. Suzie Had a Steamboat and Eenie Meenie Siscalinee. You forget the lyrics to "A Circle of Friends" and the plight of "Baby Beluga" seems every so slightly less important. But it does matter, and it is important, which is why doing Midsummer with a group of children, aged 3 (and the all important half) to 12 has been and is so wonderful. Because of these little ones I've been reminded of the joys of hand clapping games, even as simple as Miss. Mary Mack, and of singing Raffi in a circle, and of chasing fireflies. We've had to employ all sorts of tactics to keep them focused, but the most effective ones seem to be circle games (especially those with songs) and hand clapping games. So in case those all too precious vignettes of childhood have slipped to the back of your mind, here are a few reminders to make them come flowing back. Yes, it's tiring. But it's worth it.
Jumping rope or dancing in a circle:
Charlie Chaplin went to france
To teach the ladies the Hula dance
First on the knees
then on the toes
around and around and around you go
Salute the captain and bow to the queen
Touch the bottom of the submarine (Switch person in the middle)
Clapping Hands:
Avocado Avacado is the name of the game
If you mess up the game, we've gotta change the name
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 Z
Playing a Game:
(Wink Murder)
Choose a host, and one designated leader person will silently choose a "murderer."
Everyone enters the party, and intermingles, meeting new friends, and shaking hands
If someone winks at you fall to the floor!
When 3 people remain, the host must guess the killer
Singing a song:
Jumping rope or dancing in a circle:
Charlie Chaplin went to france
To teach the ladies the Hula dance
First on the knees
then on the toes
around and around and around you go
Salute the captain and bow to the queen
Touch the bottom of the submarine (Switch person in the middle)
Clapping Hands:
Avocado Avacado is the name of the game
If you mess up the game, we've gotta change the name
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 Z
Playing a Game:
(Wink Murder)
Choose a host, and one designated leader person will silently choose a "murderer."
Everyone enters the party, and intermingles, meeting new friends, and shaking hands
If someone winks at you fall to the floor!
When 3 people remain, the host must guess the killer
Singing a song:
Photo credits: Ashley M. Lorenz