20 Reasons I Teach Hand Clapping Games In Our Homeschool

Preview: There are a lot of great reasons to teach hand clap games to your children. Here are 20 of the reasons I teach them to my children.

Do you have memories of playing hand clapping games as a child? I remember singing the rhymes with friends.

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back

Now it’s my privilege to introduce them to my children. My daughters and I have spent hours clapping, singing, and laughing together. I taught them many of the rhymes. Sometimes they learned a new one from a friend or cousin and taught it to me.

Regardless of who is teaching whom, there are many great reasons to teach hand clap games in your homeschool. Here are my top reasons.

1. Develops hand-eye coordination

Hand clapping games require children to observe their hand movements and their partner’s, thus improving their hand-eye coordination.

2. Allows their eyes to practice tracking

When playing hand clapping games, children’s eyes are continually moving to follow their hands. They need to develop the ability to track with their to read well.

3. Provides opportunities to cross the midline

Some hand clapping games require children to cross the midline, while other games have them bring their hands together at midline. (Several of the hand clapping rhymes in Hand Clapping Fun have been modified to cross the midline more than the original rhyme.)

4. Develops bilateral coordination

Hand clapping games utilize a variety of motions that enhance all three types of bilateral coordination (performing the same activity with both sides of the body as in pushing a rolling pin, performing alternating movements such as skipping, and performing a different movement with each side of the body such as holding a sheet of paper and cutting it with scissors).

5. Provides practice in motor planning

The repetitive nature of hand clapping games provides practice in motor planning.

6. Encourages rhythm and beat awareness

Hand clapping games are often performed to a specific rhythm and beat and provide a wonderful opportunity for practicing this skill.

7. Provides practice sequencing and patterning

Many hand clapping games involve a rhyme that follows a sequence and pattern, such as Miss Mary Mack got dressed, then asked for fifty cents, then saw the elephants jump high, etc.

8. Develops spatial skills

Clapping games allow children to improve their spatial skills as they learn their part and interact with their partner.

9. Provides an opportunity to practice self-control

Hand clap games allow children to improve their self-control as they move their hands in specific clapping patterns, stop clapping in the middle of the rhyme, and change speed during the game.

10. Encourages unstructured play

Teaching children hand clapping games equips them to entertain themselves at any time. These games are also a great way to pass the time while waiting in line. My daughters have spontaneously broken into rhyme in stores, doctor’s offices, and airports.

11. Promotes cooperation and communication

Many games are designed as a competition. Very few exist to encourage cooperative efforts. Hand clapping games not only encourage but require cooperation to master the rhythm and beat in unison. They also provide an opportunity for children to teach a new skill to others.

12. Promotes patience and perseverance

When children play hand clapping games, one partner is usually faster than the other. Working with children of different abilities provides an opportunity for both children to work together. The faster child can practice being patient while the slower child improves his speed and ability. On the flip side, it provides the slower child an opportunity to persevere as he works to improve.

13. Encourages making eye contact

Playing hand clapping games can provide opportunities to practice making eye contact with a friend in a fun and non-threatening situation.

14. Enhances auditory development

Memorizing and saying the rhyme, hearing the beat, matching the clap to the rhyme, and saying the rhyme in cadence with your partner all enhance auditory development.

15. Provides an opportunity to spend quality time together

It can be difficult for many adults, myself included, to sit down and “play” with children. Having a focused activity such as clapping games makes playtime easier for the adult.

16. Creates shared experiences

Have you heard the phrase, “Families that play together, stay together.”? Sharing laughter and fun creates a bond that can help you weather difficult times with your child.

17. Rewards children with a sense of accomplishment

Who doesn’t enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when you learn a new skill? After learning a new hand clapping game, it was not uncommon for my daughter to shout, “I did it!”

18. Provides a brain break

Because you can perform a hand clapping game in just a few minutes, it provides a good quick break between lessons.

19. Creates generational memories

Clapping games tend to be passed down from generation to generation. Chances are you learned at least one hand clap game from an older cousin, sibling, parent, or grandparent.

20. They’re fun!

Finally, hand clapping games are just fun.