Skip A Rope

 

Another childhood school game was jump rope. Some had a rhyming song/verse to say while jumping, whether you were jumping alone or had 2 friends swinging the rope for you. You’d get to the end of the song/verse and then it would be the next girl’s turn. And of course, if you flubbed a jump, your turn was over immediately. Other versions had some kind of rhyme that then went into counting. You jumped until you flubbed it. The one who had the highest number of jumps was the winner. Some rhymes called for another person to join in with the first jumper. Sometimes the second jumper stayed, sometimes the first jumper left and the rhyme continued with the second jumper. As for double dutch, I NEVER was able to do that. I was strictly a one-rope jumper.

 

The book pictured above is one I got at the library years ago and was enchanted with it. Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep by Eleanor Farjeon. One of my favorite children’s authors. Many years later I bought it. I love it just as much as I loved it when I was a little girl. Maybe even more…

 

Cinderella, dressed in yella
Went upstairs to kiss a fella
Made a mistake
And kissed a snake
How many doctors
Did it take?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

 

Jane and Johnny (Usually the name of the jumper and one of the cute or ugly guys in the class)
Sitting in a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love,
Then comes marriage
Then comes Janey
With a baby carriage.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

 

(This one called for actions by the jumper)

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Touch the ground.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch your shoe.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
That will do.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Go upstairs.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Say your prayers.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn out the light.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Say good night!

 

(Another one with actions)

Not last night but the night before

Twenty-four robbers came knocking at my door

As I went out to let them in

This is what they said to me

Lady, lady, turn around

Lady, lady touch the ground

Lady, lady show your shoes

Lady, lady that will do.

As I ran out to get my gun

You should have seen those robbers run

Some went East, some went West

Some went over the cuckoo’s nest.

 

Do you have any rhymes from your childhood?