Hello
Guest

Sponsored Links


Topic: Children's songs/games unique to UK?  (Read 1552 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

  • *
  • Posts: 962

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: May 2010
  • Location: Berkhamsted
Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« on: May 30, 2011, 02:51:20 PM »
My sister is a children's librarian in Ohio. She's currently planning activities to go along with their summer reading club. Their theme this year is "Reading Takes You Places!" and will explore various cultures and countries around the world. She's asked me if I know any songs or games that are unique to the UK, and I can't think of anything. As I don't have kids, and my BF acts like he never was one, I was wondering if any of you have ideas? The reading club is for children of all ages, and outdoor facilities are a bit limited as the library is in the middle of a city.

Any ideas would be much appreciated! And if you can think of songs/games from other European cultures than that would be helpful as well. Thanks!
I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.' Kurt Vonnegut


  • *
  • Posts: 382

  • Matthew's two favourite things - chocolate & !!
  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Aug 2007
  • Location: UK
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2011, 04:26:28 PM »
I guess a lot of nursery rhymes (that the children may already be familiar with) are British/English in origin, eg Ring a ring a roses (based around the plague), London Bridge is falling down, the Lion and the Unicorn.  How about the following rhyme:

Remember, Remember the fifth of November;
Gunpowder, treason and plot;
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason;
should ever be forgot.

Relating, of course, to Guy Fawkes and all our Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night traditions - uniquely British.


  • *
  • Posts: 3431

  • Liked: 31
  • Joined: Jul 2008
  • Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2011, 04:35:10 PM »
Conkers!
Arrived as student 9/2003; Renewed student visa 9/2006; Applied for HSMP approval 1/2008; HSMP approved 3/2008; Tier 1 General FLR received 4/2008; FLR(M) Unmarried partner approved (in-person) 27/8/2009; ILR granted at in-person PEO appointment 1/8/2011; Applied for citizenship at Edinburgh NCS 31/10/2011; Citizenship approval received 4/2/2012
FINALLY A CITIZEN! 29/2/2012


  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 2991

    • Smiley Gifts World
  • Liked: 1
  • Joined: Feb 2004
  • Location: Cheshire, England
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2011, 05:04:25 PM »
Conkers!
This was my only thought!


  • *
  • Posts: 6098

  • Britannicaine
  • Liked: 198
  • Joined: Nov 2008
  • Location: Baku, Azerbaijan
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2011, 05:33:51 PM »
I have no idea if this is unique to the UK, but my SIL used to sing "Five green and speckled frogs" to my nephew.  It goes "Five green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log, Eating the most delicious bugs--YUM YUM, One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool, Then there were four green and speckled frogs" and so on until all the frogs have jumped into the pool.  She had a hand puppet where each finger was a frog.  I don't remember having sung that as a child, but I don't know if that's because it's unique to the UK or not. 

There's a great French children's song called Lundi Matin.  In English, the lyrics go "Monday morning, the Emperor, his wife, and the little prince, Came to my house to shake my hand, As I had left, the little prince said "Since that's the way it is, we'll come back on Tuesday."  The next verse starts "Tuesday morning..." and so on until on Sunday when the little prince says "We won't come back any more."  It helps practise days of the week, but also verb tenses for older French learners.  Here's some links:

http://www.momes.net/comptines/temps/lundi-matin.html
http://platea.pntic.mec.es/cvera/hotpot/joursd.htm

The first site has got lots of other French songs and games as well. 
On s'envolera du même quai
Les yeux dans les mêmes reflets,
Pour cette vie et celle d'après
Tu seras mon unique projet.

Je t'aimais, je t'aime, et je t'aimerai.

--Francis Cabrel


  • *
  • Posts: 6537

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Jul 2006
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2011, 05:59:59 PM »
Pssst.  Ring a ring of roses is not about the plague. 

http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.asp


  • *
  • Posts: 3212

  • Liked: 3
  • Joined: Apr 2007
  • Location: Manchester UK
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2011, 08:37:20 PM »
I am always the one leading sing songs anywhere you go, so I can think of quite a few songs that are unique to the UK, and some even to the North West. I am sure you can find all of these songs on YouTube...

Wind the Bobbin up...thats about children working in mills.
Two little dickie birds sat on a wall, one named peter the other named paul...
Sleeping Bunnies
Jingle Jangle Scarecrow
Ring a Ring a Rosie (with the Atischoo lyrics)
Row Row Row your boat (and if you see a Crocodlie don't forget to scream, if you see a polar bear don't forget to shiver...)
The Bells of St Clements
Round and Round the garden like a teddy bear...
Teddy Bears Picnic
The Grand Old Duke of York
Ten Little Sausages Sizzling in a pan
Five Current Buns
1,2,3,4,5 Once I caught a fish alive
Horsey Horsey Don't you stop


Here is a link I found with some more information
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3577647

Signed the queen of the singalong!


  • *****
  • Posts: 6082

  • Liked: 25
  • Joined: Jan 2001
  • Location: Southwest UK
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2011, 08:46:54 PM »
Says my partner:
Quote
You probably had "wedgies" in the States?

Good children's game, lol.


  • *
  • Posts: 6537

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Jul 2006
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2011, 08:56:10 PM »
Wind the bobbin up and sleeping bunnies are really popular with my nieces and nephews.

Grand Old Duke of York, Teddy bear's picnic and 12345 I remember from the US, but I bet that is regional as well. 


  • *
  • Posts: 2740

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Jan 2009
  • Location: London
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2011, 09:21:10 PM »
Oranges and Lemons.

I'm a music teacher, so I'm finding new ones that I've never heard before all the time! Lots of great suggestions so far. I'll chime in if I think of anything else!
Finally living with my Husband in London after 6 1/2 years together but apart... and loving my life!


  • *
  • Posts: 962

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: May 2010
  • Location: Berkhamsted
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2011, 10:04:01 PM »
Thanks so much for all these so far! They're great! Keep them coming if you think of any more.

Also, conkers is a pretty good suggestion considering Ohio is the Buckeye state! Strangely I never remember any games involving buckeyes (except Ohio State University football ::)). 
I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.' Kurt Vonnegut


  • *
  • Posts: 2188

  • Liked: 4
  • Joined: Mar 2006
  • Location: Abertridwr, Caerphilly, Wales
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2011, 04:04:25 PM »
I was getting ready to type some, but I think Racheee got all my daughter's favourites--although there are a few that I sang in the States too like Horsey, horsey (although with slightly different lyrics), Two Little Dicky Birds, and 12345 once I caught a fish alive.

I love the variations on Row, row, row your boat and how you rock the children. My daughter sings it all the time.  Wind the bobbin up and sleeping bunnies are all-time favourites here as well.


  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 16329

  • Also known as PB&J ;-)
  • Liked: 857
  • Joined: Sep 2007
  • Location: :-D
Re: Children's songs/games unique to UK?
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2011, 04:21:39 PM »
Says my partner:
Good children's game, lol.

Lol!!!!
I've never gotten food on my underpants!
Work permit (2007) to British Citizen (2014)
You're stuck with me!


Sponsored Links





 

coloured_drab