Hand Clapping Games for Kids
Children of all ages enjoy clapping games. And since these games require little in the way of preparation, special equipment, clean up, or space, they are popular among parents, as well. But clapping games are about more than just fun; they develop children's sense of rhythm and coordination. Use the games below as a starting point. The fun grows as you personalize the games with your own additions.
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Patty Cake
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This classic is a favorite among the youngest children. Hold the hands of a baby who cannot yet clap for himself; toward the end of the first year, he'll be ready to take over. Clap in time as you say the rhyme, "Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can." Then act out the words as you finish it: "Roll it, and pat it, and mark it with B. And put it in the oven for Baby and me."
Going on a Bear Hunt
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The verses to this song take young school-age children through a variety of obstacles as they seek a bear. The real fun begins when the bear is spotted and you have to go back through the obstacles as quickly as possible. The lyrics are available at the Songs for Teaching website.
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Rainstorm
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This game is most effective with a group of children, as the effects are magnified. Tell the children that they will create their own rainstorm. The rain begins as a soft drizzle; children clap just one finger against the opposite palm. As the rainfall gets heavier, children clap with two fingers, then three, then four. Finally, the rain becomes a downpour, children clap with both hands. The rain then tapers off as children reverse the process.
Categories
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This game for older school-age children can be particularly helpful on long trips. Throughout the game, children keep a steady rhythm going by patting their laps, then clapping their hands, snapping with their left hands, and then snapping with their right. All speaking is done on the snapping beats; speaking off-beat is grounds for being "out." The first person says, "Categories." The second says, "Such as." The third person names a category (e.g., colors, animals, cities). All subsequent players must name an item in that category. Duplicating items or failing to name one are grounds for being "out." A player who is stumped can bail herself out by starting over with, "Categories."
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- Photo Credit applause image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
