Every game involves some attention and conformity to rules. “Follow the Leader” involves activity, careful observation of the leader’s movements, imitation, alertness, motor control, and reasoning in guessing; if trade is represented, the leader must exercise ingenuity and initiative in thinking of a new movement. “Spin the Platter” and “Drop the Handkerchief” require mental alertness intermittent with attention. “Cat and Mouse” and “Hawk and Chickens” require physical alertness, dexterity, and quick judgment. “Ring-around-a-Rosie” involves rhythm, chanting, and a bit of the ludicrous. “Charlie Over the Water” is a step further, involving mental and physical alertness. “Little Sallie Waters” and “Farmer in the Dell” involve love of rhythm and music, dramatizing, and the choice of a partner.

Games for the Littlest

Eight to Eighteen Months. Motor control, finger plays, surprise

Finger Plays:Falling, Falling (Mother Play)
Peek-a-booRolling and receiving the ball
Pat-a-CakeHiding self
Open the DoorHiding things
This Little PigCatching

One to Three Years. Motor control, finger plays, hiding; observation, surprise, guessing, imitation

Hide and Seek (very simple)Finger Plays:
Hunt the Thimble (use ball or doll)Here’s a Ball for Baby
Chasing and catchingThe Merry Little Men
Rolling, tossing, and catching ballFinger Piano
Shut them, Open
Thumbkin says, “I’ll dance”

Nursery Finger Plays

1.This Little Pig Went to Market
2.Knock at the door (tap the forehead)
Peep in (lift the eyelid)
Lift up the latch (touch tip of nose)
Walk in (touch lips)
Take a little chair
Right down under there (chucking under the chin).
3.Here’s my father’s knives and forks (hands back to back, fingers standing up like rake)
Here’s my mother’s table (hands turned over, the interlaced fingers flat like a table)
Here’s my sister’s looking-glass (forefingers raised, forming a triangle)
And here’s the baby’s cradle (little fingers also raised, forming a triangle for front piece of cradle).
4.Here’s the church (position as in line 2 of preceding)
And here’s the steeple ” ” ” ” 3 ” ”
Open the door ” ” ” ” 1 ” ”
And see all the people.
5.“Shut them, open; shut them, open;
Give a little clap;
Open, shut them; open, shut them;
Fold them in your lap;
Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them.
To the little chin;
Open wide the little mouth,
And pop a finger in.
“Shut them, open; shut them, open,
To the shoulders fly;
Open, shut them; open, shut them,
Up into the sky;
Falling, falling, falling, falling,
Almost to the ground;
Hold them up in front of you
And twirl them round and round.”
6.Thumbkin says, “I’ll dance,”
Thumbkin says, “I’ll sing,”
Dance and sing, ye merry little men,
Thumbkin says, “I’ll dance and sing.”
(Tapping with thumb, other fingers closed)
Pointer says, etc. Refrain
Tall man says, etc. ”
Ring man says, etc. ”
Little man says, etc. ”
(On refrain, all fingers tapping)
All men say they’ll rest
All men say they’ll sleep.
Rest and sleep, ye merry little men;
All men say they’ll rest and sleep.
(Last stanza, hands closed, thumb inside; sing softly)
7.Now see we here.
These friends so dear,
As they together meet.
With bows polite
And faces bright
Each other they will greet.
Oh, “How do you do,” and
“How do you do,” and
“How do you do,” again
And “How do you do,”
And “How do you do,”
Say all these little men.

(Hands held up with fingers erect, palms opposite. At line 7, thumbs bent toward each other, and following fingers on each succeeding greeting; all together on line 11.)

Three to Four Years. Children are usually not yet interested in group games; some children not until five or six years. At this age children can play together with their toys but cannot manage a game among themselves. They are able to play simple games with an adult. The parent or teacher can make simple games out of the daily activities.