Skipping Rope Games and Rhymes

Teach your children the fine art of jumping rope with the following games and rhymes.

To help your children learn how to skip, swing a rope from side to side instead of overhead so that children can practice jumping over it. Once they have the timing, start swinging the rope over head.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Players take turns skipping. While everyone chants the rhyme, skippers must do the actions. At the end of the rhyme the first skipper jumps out and the next one comes in. The rhyme starts again for each new skipper.

If a skipper steps on the rope or misses an action, then they are out. Out players take over turning the rope.

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear turn around

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear touch the ground

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear show your shoe

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear that will do!

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear climb the stairs

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear say your prayers

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear turn off the lights

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear say good night (skipper waves as he/she skips out)

Birthday Game

For this game, skippers jump into a turning rope when their birthday month is called. Eventually, all skippers will be skipping together. As their birthday day is called they jump back out.

All in together

Never mind the weather

When I call your birthday

You must jump in

January, February,

March, April,

May, June,

July, August

September, October

November, December

All out together

it's mighty fine weather

when it's your birthday

please jump out

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. to 31

A Note on Picking Rope Turners...

All players put one fist into the circle. The person who owns the rope chants the following rhyme, while tapping all other players' fists in succession to the beat of the song (including his/her own). The person tapped at "U" is the first rope turner. The rhyme is repeated to pick the second rope turner. The first person to mess up takes the place of the first turner, etc.

Icka bicka soda cracker

Icka bicka boo;

Icka bicka soda cracker

Out goes Y-O-U

By Rochelle Strauss