Clap games! I think this is a gigantuous way to have fun and flex brain neurons. Plus it's a great way to expend energy when it's too cold or hot to go outside.
A clapping game is (usually) a cooperative non-competitive game for all ages which is generally played by two players and involves clapping as an accompaniment to singing or reciting a rhyme.
Learn, then teach your child or grandchild clap games. Or ask them to teach you. Chances are they know one.
Besides the two games above, here are others:
DOUBLE THIS!
(This is a fairly straightforward hand clap, more of a chant than a song.)
Double, double this this
Double, double that that
Double this
Double that
Double, double this that
On the word:
Double - hands fisted, touch knuckles
this - partners clap palms
that - partners clap back of hands
MISS MARY MAC
1. Miss Mary Mac, Mac, Mac
All dressed in black, black, black,
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons,
All down her back, back, back.
2. She asked her mother, mother, mother,
For fifteen cents, cents, cents,
To see the elephant, elephant, elephant,
Jump over the fence, fence, fence.
3. He jumped so high, high, high,
He reached the sky, sky, sky,
And didn't come back, back, back,
Till the Fourth of July, ly, ly.
Action 1: Chant rhyme doing the following actions on the last three words of each line.
Mac - slap knees
Mac - clap own hands
Mac - clap partner's hands
Action 2:
Miss - cross arms and slap own shoulders
Mar - uncross arms and slap thighs
y - clap own hands
Mac - clap right hand with partner
(pause) - clap own hands
Mac - clap left hand with partner
(pause) - clap own hands
Mac - clap partner's hands
Continue the sequence (action 1 or action 2) for remaining verses.
