Jump Rope Games
Jump Rope
 The history of jump rope activities
traces as far back as 1600 A.D. from
paintings that show children
jumping rope on European
cobblestone streets. Jumping rope
began as a boys' only game. When
American girls began to play this
sport, they added rhymes and singsong games.
 Many of these rhymes were passed
down from generation to generation;
others were written down. Boys, at
first, didn’t chant rhymes, but rather
held contests to see who could make
the most jumps.
 Skipping rope didn't not become a
favorite past-time for American
girl’s until the 1830’s.
Jumping Rope and social interaction
 Jumping rope requires much cooperation
and social interaction. Turners and jumpers
must cooperate with each other in order to
be successful with their sport. The chanting
of rhymes while all the jumping occurs
fosters social interaction.
American folk Rhymes
 Many of the American folk rhymes used for
jumping rope are considered mini-dramas,
complete with antagonism and aggression. But,
most of these rhymes are merely exaggerations
meant to tease on another about boyfriends, to
brag about skills, or to challenge one another with
the number of jumps that can be done. The
teasing or bragging is done in fun, and at the time
encourages the social skills of the children.
Length of the Rope
 An individual jump rope should be long
enough to reach from your armpits to the
floor when folded in half. A jump rope used
for three or more players (two turners and a
jumper) should be ten feet long.
Skipping Terms
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Salt – Turn the rope slowly
Mustard or Vinegar – Turn the rope at a normal speed.
Pepper- Turn the rope as fast as you can.
Bluebells or rock the cradle – Swinging the rope from side to side but
not all the way around.
High Water – hold the rope high so it does not touch the ground as you
turn it.
Low Water – Crouch down and turn the rope so the skipper must skip
in a crouched position.
Chase the fox – Everyone follows the leader, who runs in and out of
the rope.
Under the Moon – Players Run under the turning rope without
skipping.
Over the stars – Players run and jump over the rope.
Here Comes the teacher
 Here Comes the Teacher
Here comes the teacher,
Better think quick!
Now its time for arithmetic!
5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40…
Cinderella
 Cinderella, dressed in yellow
Went upstairs to kiss a fellow
Made a mistake and kissed a snake
How many doctors did it take?
(count until the child makes a mistake)
Cinderella another version
 Cinderella dressed in red
Went upstairs to comb her head
how many strokes did she give it?
One, two, three, four…
(count until the child makes a mistake)
Cinderella another version
 Cinderella dressed in lace
Went upstairs to powder her face.
How many boxes did she use?
 One, two, three, four…
(count until the child makes a mistake)
Cinderella another version
 Cinderella dressed in yellow
Went upstairs to see her fellow.
How many kisses did she give him?
One, two, three, four…
(count until the child makes a mistake)
Will I Marry
 Will I Marry?
Will I marry, tell me so,
Is the answer yes or no?
Yes, no, maybe so,
Yes, no, maybe so…
(repeat the last line until
the jumper makes a
mistake. The word the
mistake is made on is
what shall be…)
Gypsy, Gypsy, please tell me
 Gypsy, Gypsy, please tell me
Who my husband will be.
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief.
Doctor, lawyer, Indian Chief…
(repeat until missed; one missed on is
husband)
Miss Mary Mack
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Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack,
All dressed in black, black, black,
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons,
All down her back, back, back,
She asked her mother, mother, mother,
For fifteen cents, cents, cents.
To see the elephant, elephant, elephant,
Who jumped the fence, fence, fence,
He jumped so high, high, high,
That he touched the sky, sky, sky,
And never came back, back, back.
Till the fourth of July, -ly, -ly.
I ask my parents for fifteen cents
To see the platypus jumped the fence
She jumped so high,
She touched the sky
And didn’t come back
Till the fourth of July.
Bluebells and Cockleshells
 Bluebells, Cockleshells
Bluebells, cockleshells, Evy, ivy over.
Mother does the washing,
Father does the work,
How many hours does the Baby sleep?
Down in the Valley
 Down in the Valley where the green grass
grows
There sat Delaney as pretty as a rose
Up came David and kissed her on the cheek
How many kisses did she get this week?
1,2,3…etc.
(substitute names and everyone counts until
the jumper stops or makes am mistake.)
Down in the Meadow
 Down in the Meadow
Where the green grass grows,
There sits Delaney pretty as a rose.
Along came Eric and kissed her on the nose.
How many kisses did she get?
1-2-3-4…
Down by the ocean
 Down by the ocean,
Down by the sea,
Johnny broke a bottle
And blamed it on me.
I told Ma,
Ma told Pa,
And Johnny got a whipping with a
Ha ha ha.
How many whippings did he get?
1-2-3-4-5…
(continues until missed)
Mama, Mama, I’m so sick.
 Mama, Mama, I’m so sick
Send for the doctor
Quick, quick, quick.
Doctor, Doctor, will I die?
Yes, my lad, but do not cry.
How many days have I got?
One, two, three, four…
(count until the child makes a mistake)
Mother, Mother, I am ill.
 Mother, Mother, I am ill.
Call for the doctor over the hill.
First came the doctor.
Then came the nurse.
Then came the lady with the alligator purse.
Out went the doctor.
Out went the nurse.
Out went the lady with the alligator purse.
Sunday-Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-FridaySaturday…
(continue until missed)
Cups and Saucers
 Cups and Saucers
Cups and saucers,
Plates and dishes,
Here comes Sally in her calico breeches.
How many stitches in her breeches?
One..two…three…four
I like Coffee, I like Tea
 I like Coffee, I like Tea,
I want Delaney (or name of the next person to
come in) to come in with me.
(The first child says the rhyme and the second
child joins the first child. They jump
together while the second child says the
rhyme again. The first child jumps out
before the second one jumps in.)
I like Coffee, I like Tea (another
version when jumping alone)
 I like Coffee, I like Tea,
I like the boys, and the boys like me.
Yes, no, maybe so.
Yes, no, maybe so.
Rooms for rent
 Rooms for rent,
Inquire within
As I move out
Let Delaney come in.
(Substitute name for each new child)
Grizzly Bear
 Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear. Turn around.
 Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear. Touch the ground.
 Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear shine your shoes.
 Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear. Read the News.
 Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear. Go upstairs.
 Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear. Say your Prayers.
 Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear. Blow out the Light.
 Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear, Spell good night.
 G-O-O-D-N-I-G-H-T
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
 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, go upstairs
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good night!
(The child jumping says the rhyme, does the actions, and
jumps out on “goodnight”)
Ladybug, Ladybug
 Ladybug, Ladybug, turn around
Ladybug, Ladybug, touch the ground
Ladybug, Ladybug, shine your shoes
Ladybug, Ladybug, read the news
Ladybug, Ladybug, how old are you?
1,2,3…
(count until a mistake or until the child stops)
Spanish Dancer
 Spanish Dancer, do the split
Spanish Dancer, give a kick
Spanish Dancer, turn around
Spanish Dancer, get out of town.
I’m a little Dutch girl
 I’m a little Dutch girl
 Dressed in blue
 Here are some things
 That I can do.
(Children call out things for the one
jumping to do.)
Dutch Girl another version
 I am a pretty little Dutch girl, as pretty as pretty can be and
every boy in my hometown goes crazy over me!
l have a boyfriend fatty, He came from Cincinnati with 48
toes and pickle on his nose and this is how my story goes
One day while I was walking I saw my boyfriend talking
to a pretty little girl with strawberry curls and this is what
he said to her
I L-O-V-E love you, I K-I-S-S kiss you
I K-I-S-S kiss you on the F-A-C-E face, face, face.
Mabel, Mabel
 Mabel, Mabel neat and able
Mabel, Mabel set the table
And don’t forget the
Red hot Peppers!
(Jump Hot Peppers until a mistake is made or
the jumper stops.)
Two, Four, Six, Eight
 Two, Four, Six, Eight
Meet me at the garden gate.
If you’re late, I won’t wait.
Two, Four, Six, Eight
A Teasing Rhyme
 Tammy and Scott
Sitting in a tree.
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love,
Then comes marriage,
Then comes Delaney in the baby carriage!
(Substitute names where appropriate)
I had a Puppy
 I had a little puppy
His name was Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub
 , to see if he could swim
He drank all the water
 , he ate a bar of soap
The next thing you know he had a bubble in his throat.
In came the doctor, (person jumps in)
In came the nurse,( person jumps in)
In came the lady with the alligator purse (person jumps in)
Out went the doctor (person jumps out)
Out went the nurse (person jumps out)
Out went the lady with the alligator purse (person jumps out)
Miss Susie
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A 'Miss Susie' variation...
Miss Susie had a baby,
She named him Tiny Tim
She put him in the bathtub,
To see if he could swim
He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap,
He tried to eat the bathtub
But it wouldn’t go down his throat.
Miss Susie called the doctor,
Miss Susie called the nurse,
Miss Susie called the lady,
With the alligator purse
In came the doctor,
In came the nurse,
In came the lady,
With the alligator purse
Mumps said the doctor,
Measles said the nurse,
Hiccups said the lady
With the alligator purse
Miss Susie punched the doctor,
Miss Susie kicked the nurse,
Miss Susie thanked the lady
With the alligator purse
3 Blind Mice
 A horse, a flea, and three blind mice, sat on
a curbstone shooting dice.
 The horse, he slipped and fell on the flea.
 The flea said "Whoops, there's a horse on
me."
Alphabet Song
 A my name is ALICE, my husband's
 name is AL, we live in ALABAMA and we bring back
APPLES
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B my name is BETTY, my husband's name is BEN, we
live in BERMUDA and we bring back BUGS.
C my name is CAROL, my husband's name is CARL, we
live in COLORADO and we bring back CRABS.
It just goes on like that through the alphabet.
All In Together Girls
 All in together girls
its fine weather
 girls
when is your birthday
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please jump in
(now really fast)
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September,
October, November, December All out together girls
its fine weather girls
when is your birthday
please jump out
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, etc., etc., etc.
Apple Tart
 "Raspberry, strawberry, apple jam tart.
 Tell me the name of your sweet heart."
 The rope turned very fast whilst the alphabet was
chanted, the skipper having to name a boy,
preferably in the class when she tripped, beginning
with that letter.
 There were other verses all the way through the
wedding, the colour of the dress, and names for
the children, but I think we invented some of the
very odd ones.
Apples, peaches, pears and plums
 Apples, peaches, pears and plums
 Tell me when your birthday comes,
 You would then skip "peppers" (or really
fast skipping) and say the months of the
year (Jan, Feb, Mar etc) trying to not get out
until you reached the month of your
birthday.
Blondie
 "Blondie
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and Dagwood went to town,
Blondie bought an evening gown,
Dagwood bought the paper,
this is what it said,
close your eyes and
count to ten, if you miss take an end!
One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten!"
Bo Bo skee watan tatan
 Bo Bo skee watan tatan
eh eh, say boom boom boom boom
itty bitty watan tatan, bo bo skee watan tatan bo bo
skee watan tatan boom!
(alternative version: substitute "boys are rotten" in
place of "boom boom boom boom" and "bo bo
skee watan tatan" after "itty bitty watan tatan" ~~
this version is very popular with little girls
 !)
Doctor
 Doctor , doctor call the doctor, Cindy's (name of
child jumping) gonna have a new born baby .
Wrap it up in tissue paper, send it down the
elevator,
 Boy, girl, twins or triplets
 Boy, girl, twins or triplets
 ( repeat this until the person jumping misses on
one of them and this means the person will be
having a boy, girl, twins or triplets.)
First grade babies
 First grade babies
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(not peaches)
Second grade tots
Third grade angels
Fourth grade snots
Fifth grade peaches
Sixth grade plums
Seventh grade ladies
Eighth grade bums!
HELP
 H - E - L - P (one jump for each letter) (The ropes spin faster and faster
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until the jumper misses on a letter. (Then, s/he must do whatever is
required at that letter.)
H - Highwaters (rope doesn't touch the ground)
E - Eyes closed or Easy over (rope goes over slower than usual)
L - Leapfrog (jump like a frog/crouch down, then jump high)
P - Peppers (rope twirls quickly)
Players can continue to spell HELP as they jump, only to do what is
required of the next letter they miss on (or the next jumper can do what
is required of the letter that the previous jumper missed on.) Or, they
can simply jump until they miss at which point the next jumper will
start from the beginning.
HELP another version
 H-hot pepper (the rope goes fast)
 E-elevator (the rope goes up)
 L-limbo (the rope goes down when she
comes out)
 P-popcorn (you wiggle the rope & the
person has to go under it)
Ice cream soda
 Ice cream soda, cherry on the top,
who's your boyfriend/girlfriend I forgot
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H (and so on until the
person stops jumping) You take the letter
he/she lands on and think of a name of
someone you know that begins with the
letter.
Last Night and the Night Before
 Last night, night before, my boyfriend took me to the
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candy store. (on the word "store" the person turns around
to face the opposite direction that she started out on) He
bought me ice cream, he bought me cake. He brought me
home with a belley ache.(turn)
Mamma, mamma, I feel sick. Call the doctor quick, quick
quick! (jump on one foot each time you say "quick")
Doctor, Doctor will I die? Close your eyes and count to 5.
(turn)
1...2...3...4...5.. (on 5 jump out of the rope while the rope
turners are still singing)
I'm still alive and on channel 5!
Lemon lime
 Lemon lime, be on time,
 so 1, 2 ( at this point, the leader jumps out the ropes while
the next person in line comes right in on...)
 3, 4 ( then this person jumps out and the next one in line
comes in on 5, 6 (the object is to stay on beat with the
count of the rope holders))
 You keep doing this until someone misses their que. This is
a lot of fun! You really test your speed and jump rope
skills. (Fun to watch
 or play)
Mabel, Mabel
 Mabel, Mabel, set the table
 Do it as fast as you are able,
 Don't forget the SALT, PEPPER
 , VINEGAR, MUSTARD,
 keep repeating salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard
 while turning the rope.
 If the jumper "misses" on "pepper", then the turners begin
turning fast or doing "hot peppers".
Miss Brown
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I went down town, to see Miss Brown.
she gave me a nickel, to buy a pickle.
The pickel was sour so she gave me a flower
The flower was black so she gave me a smack
The smack was hard so she gave me a card.
And on the card it said:
Little spanish dancer turn around (turn while jumping)
Little spanish dancer, touch the ground (touch ground)
 Little spanish dancer tie your shoe (jump onone leg
 , pretend to tie shoe)
 Little spanish dancer, sixty four skidoo (jump/exit rope area)
Rich Man Poor Man Jump Rope
Game
 Gypsy, Gypsy please tell me
 What my fortune's going to be
 Rich-man, Poor-man, Beggar-man, Thief.
 Doc-tor, Law-yer, In-di-an Chief.
 Tink-er, Tail-or, Cow-boy, Sail-or.
 Continue repeating until jumper misses and
that is who you will marry.
School
 "School , School the golden rule, spell your name
and go to school" Person spells name and then
runs out without touching rope. Then each
subsequent turn, the person jumps through the
grades. Kindergarten--person just runs though the
turning rope; First Grade--the person jumps once,
saying "first grade" then runs out; and so on,
through the 12th grade. The persons turn ends
when s/he has tripped on the rope at any time, or
when completed through the 12th grade.
Two Little Dickie Birds
 Two players, one at each end of the rope.
"Two little dickie birds sittin' on the wall" the two players jump in
 "One named Peter, one named Paul" each player waves at their name
 "Fly away, Peter, fly away, Paul" the player exits the rope as name is
called
 "Don't you come back 'till your birthday's
 called"
 "January, February...December" the player returns when their month is
called
 "Now fly away, fly away, fly away all" players both exit the rope.