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Playground Songs and Clapping Games for Kids

Spending time on the playground with friends can be one of the most exciting parts of a school day. It's fun to play on the swings, slides, and other playground equipment. Many kids like to share songs with their friends. It could be an old favorite like "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" or a song that two buddies make up as they go along! Either way, singing songs on the playground is a fun way to relax with friends. Learn the words to many popular playground songs and learn about some clapping games that can make simple songs more fun.



"Teddy Bear's Picnic"

A catchy tune about a group of teddy bears enjoying a picnic in the woods! This song is great for kids who love to skip or run around the playground at recess time.

"Row, Row, Row Your Boat"

Many kids like to sing this song in a "round": After one child finishes singing the first line, another child chimes in and starts to sing from the beginning. When several children are singing this song at the same time, it's called a round.

"Animal Fair"

A cheerful song to swing to about the creatures at the local animal fair. Kids can pretend they are elephants, monkeys and birds while singing this tune with friends.

"Humpty Dumpty"

Sing the words of this song to find out what happens to Humpty Dumpty when he climbs up on a wall to get a better view of the kingdom.

"I've Been Working on the Railroad"

A traditional favorite with kids who love to sing about trains and life on the railroad. A group of friends may want to dress up in striped suspenders and engineers' caps to pretend they are riding on a real train.

"Oh, Susanna"

An old-fashioned, beloved tune sung by a man traveling to Louisiana to see his true love. During an indoor recess, teachers can join in on the fun by playing a simple accompaniment on the piano.

"Old MacDonald Had a Farm"

It takes just a few lines to learn this catchy song about life on a farm. Kids may want to come up with some other animals that live on Old MacDonald's famous farm. There may even be a few wild animals such as buffalo, raccoons and groundhogs!

"Kookaburra"

Kids can join together to sing about a silly old kookaburra laughing his days away in an old gum tree. They can dance around to this song or join hands and make a circle around an old tree.

"Waltzing Matilda"

This song gives kids a little taste of Australia with a lot of silly words in the lyrics. Kids get to learn terms such as jumbuck, tucker bag and billabong.

"She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" (PDF)

Learn the lyrics to this traditional children's song complete with the shouts that separate the verses. This song is great for kids who love to run around on the playground jumping and singing.

"Come Little Bunny"

Slide this lively clapping game into your play list. It is paired with a song about a bunny who is trying to escape from a hunter. This is an ideal song for singing with friends on the playground. Also check out another song on the page called "Big Mac." This song pays tribute to a famous restaurant that's a favorite with many kids!

"Double, Double"

Clapping and hand motions accompany this energetic playground song. Kids can create a new version of the song by putting the words "ice cream" into it. Also try another clapping song on this page, "Miss Mary Mack."

"A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea"

Learn a clapping game with a simple tune that tells a story about a sailor who went to sea.

"B-I-N-G-O"

Three or four kids can sing and clap their way through this hilarious song about a famous dog .

"If You're Happy and You Know It"

Clap your hands, raise your hands, stomp your feet and make a smile with this entertaining tune that gets a group of friends moving on the playground.

This easy - to -l earn song lets kids make arm, leg and hand motions.

"Pat-a-Cake"

Sing the words of this old favorite while clapping and making motions with a friend. Kids can pretend they are rolling out dough and making a cake!

Learn the "Clap, Clap, Clap" song with the help of two friends named Pam and Sam. An ideal song for getting kids moving in the morning and ready for the school day!

Find more about the author: Kim Hart


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