Jump Rope Songs, Rhymes, and Chants
Ranked #233 in Healthy Living, #4,759 overall
Jump Rope Songs: Rhythmic Chants in Children's Play
When I was a little girl, jump rope songs were very popular. As girls growing up in the city on the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts, during a time when girls were not included in sports and when we didn't even have gym as part of our school day, jump rope was our main physical outlet for our childish energies. And jump rope songs or chants, passed down from girl to girl, were our main exposure to rhyme and rhythm. Jump rope was big. And necessary. Which doesn't mean our songs were profound -- just valuable as something that belonged solely to kids.
This lens includes many of the jump rope songs my friends and I sang as kids. I've included some jump ropes and books of songs as well. Any of the jump rope posters can be purchased by clicking on the pictures.
I hope you have some jump rope fun!
Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/772166
Contents at a Glance
What is Jumping (or Skipping) Rope?
A Wikipedia Reference
- Skipping Rope -- Wikipedia
- An overview of skipping rope, or jumping rope. Covers the history, the cardiovascular benefits, and the growing competitive elements of the sport. Includes descriptions of its many moves.
Jump Rope Rhyme: Banana Banana
This Was the First Jump Rope Song I Ever Learned
Banana, banana
Banana split!
Mama bought
a newborn chick!
Chickie died
Mama cried
Banana, banana
Banana split!
Another Jump Rope Rhyme: Ice Cream Soda
This One Always Made Me Nervous -- Would I Get Teased?
Ice cream soda
with a cherry on top
What are the initials
of your sweetheart?
Capital R N
(Didn't know him then, but that's the one I married!)
Did You Grow Up Jumping Rope?
Do You Jump Rope for Fitness Now?
-
-
UKGhostwriter
May 24, 2012 @ 8:30 pm | delete
- The good old days revived!!
-
-
-
Wedding_Mom
May 10, 2012 @ 5:02 am | delete
- I still do it now. It's a great exercise.
-
-
-
LittleTwoTwo
Jan 26, 2012 @ 2:06 am | delete
- I use to double dutch a lot as a kid, we would switch out without stopping, find creative ways to hop in, it was like a competition we loved it it was also great exercise!. Great lens and thanks for the memories
-
-
-
LittleTwoTwo
Jan 26, 2012 @ 2:06 am | delete
- I use to double dutch a lot as a kid, we would switch out without stopping, find creative ways to hop in, it was like a competition we loved it it was also great exercise!. Great lens and thanks for the memories
-
-
-
hlkljgk Jan 3, 2012 @ 9:08 pm | delete
- i did. :)
-
- Load More
You Can Buy a Jump Rope Here
Check Out These Different Jump Rope Styles
Choose from one of these inexpensive jump ropes. You can use one of these jump ropes for improving your heart health and to practice these neat jump rope songs!
Jump Rope Songs in Different Versions
Did You Sing This Jump Rope Song?
Because jump rope songs are passed down orally from child to child, the words can vary from region to region and even from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. You may notice differences between the songs you remember and the ones I have written here or the ones to which I have provided links.
That's as it should be for an oral tradition. It may also add interest. For example, why, in one version, did Cinderella kiss a snake and need lots of doctors to make her better after she did, while in another version she was simply playing her cello? The first version may just be silly, but it could also be a way a girl was being warned against kissing someone who could turn out to be a snake and would hurt her.
Jump Rope Chant: Cinderella
Two Versions of This Jump Rope Song
Cinderella
Dressed in yellow
Went upstairs
To kiss her fellow.
By mistake
She kissed a snake
How many doctors
Did it take?
Pepper: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
In case you forget, "pepper" means you speed up turning the rope. You count until you miss jumping and the number you "trip over" is the answer to the "how many" question!
Another version:
Cinderella
Dressed in yellow
Went outside
To play her cello
How many minutes
Did she take?
Pepper: 10-20-30-40-50-60!
She practiced a whole hour. Wow! Good for her!
Here's Another Jump Rope Rhyme I Learned Early On
I Don't Think We Thought Too Deeply About What It Meant!
Baby in the Highchair
Baby in the highchair
Who put him in?
Ma
Pa
Whoopsieda!
Well, on second thought, I think I'll leave the rest out!
Skipping Rope: We Learn About Each Other Through Play
Learning How to Get Along with Others
Jump Rope Rhyme: Fudge Fudge
Babies Didn't Really Have a Gender in This Jump Rope Song
Fudge fudge
Call the judge
Mama's got a newborn baby.
It isn't a boy
It isn't a girl
It's just a plain old baby!
Here is another example of a rhyme with different versions. In one version I have recently discovered, it is the jumping girl who has had a baby and "her boyfriend is going crazy"! I suppose kids who are using the song adjust the rhyme according to what makes sense to them and then pass on that version to the younger kids.
Girls Jumping Rope in the Playground of Franciscan Sisters School, Luxor, Egypt
Jump Rope Poster
Jump Rope Rhyme: I Had a Little Turtle/Lady With the Alligator Purse
Similar Jump Rope Songs
I had a little turtle.
His name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub
to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water.
He ate the bar of soap.
He woke up in the morning
with a bubble in his throat.
This is the song the way I learned it as a kid:
Miss Penny had a baby.
His name was Tiny Tim.
She put him in the bathtub
to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water.
He ate the bar of soap.
He would have eaten the bathtub
but it wouldn't fit down his throat.
Miss Penny called the doctor.
Miss Penny called the nurse.
Miss Penny called the lady with the alligator purse.
In came the doctor
In came the nurse
In came the lady with the alligator purse
"Measles!" said the doctor.
"Mumps!" said the nurse.
"Everything!" said the lady with the alligator purse.
Out went the doctor.
Out went the nurse.
Out went the lady with the alligator purse.
I have heard versions in which the doctor, nurse, and alligator purse parts were added to the turtle version.
Which Version of This Jump Rope Song Did You Learn?
Which version of this jump rope song do you prefer?
I like the turtle version.
I like Miss Penny's baby version
faith mccabe says:
i learned the baby one when i was a kid and i never forgot it i love it because whenever i hear it i remember the " good ol' days"
Weedwacker says:
We sang miss Penny's version, but we called her Miss Lucy.
none says:
none!!!!!!!
BuckHawk says:
I so well remember the Miss Penny version. It never mattered if they made sense, they just needed to work for the rythm of jumping rope.
Joan4 says:
I am surprised Ohme does not remember this one, cause I do! :)
Anna Banana: 101 Jump Rope Rhymes
by Joanna Cole
A Couple More Jump Rope Rhymes
Miss Mary Mack and I Asked My Mother for Fifty Cents
Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back.
I asked my mother
For fifty cents
To see the elephant
Jump the fence.
He jumped so high,
He touched the sky,
And didn't come back
Till the Fourth of July!
Jump Rope Rhyme: A My Name is Alice
Alphabet Jump Rope Song
A my name is Alice;
My husband's name is Al;
We live in Alabama,
And we sell apples.
(The first child jumps out and the second one jumps in to continue the chant.)
B my name is Barbara;
My husband's name is Ben;
We live in Boston,
And we sell balloons.
The same pattern is repeated as each child takes a turn until all the letters of the alphabet have been used.
Children can have a lot of fun thinking up names, places, and items to sell. They also get practice with beginning sounds. Depending on the number of children playing, they may have to think up names pretty quickly!
Double Dutch Jump Rope
More Challenging Skill to Develop Than Ordinary Jump Rope
Double Dutch has become popular in some circles as a competitive sport. Begun in the inner cities of the U.S., Double Dutch has spread to such faraway locales as England and Japan. The following videos will show some of the ways this sport has been developed.
Jump Rope Rhyme: All in Together Girls
Months of the Year Jump Rope Song
All in together, girls,
Very fine weather, girls,
I spy teacher hanging out the clothes.
Fire! Fire!
Teacher is a liar!
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December!
I don't know about you, but that was how I got to really know the order of the months of the year! I don't know how the teachers felt overhearing our shrill voices calling them liars in the schoolyard, though.
Here's Another Months of the Year Jump Rope Song
Jump Rope Rhyme to Learn
As the rope turns and the song sung, everyone jumped together. When your birthday month was called, you jumped out and waited until all months were called and all kids had jumped out.
Apples, peaches, pears, and plums,
Tell me when your birthday comes:
January, February,
March, April, May,
June, July, August,
September, October,
November, December!
Double Dutch: A Fancy Way to Jump Rope
How to Do Double Dutch
Would you like to have some tips about how to do this exciting sport? Here are some links that may help.
- Jump Double Dutch
- Step by step instructions on how to do Double Dutch.
- How Do I Learn the Double Dutch Game?
- Another person's instructions on how to jump rope the Double Dutch way. Sometimes it helps to hear it in more than one way, don't you think?
- Double Dutch Routines
- This explanation breaks down the routines you need to learn as beginning, medium, and advanced moves.
- Jump Rope Songs
- More memories of jumping rope.
This Isn't the Way I Played Jump Rope as a Kid
But It Sure Looks Like Fun!
Skipping Rope vs. Double Dutch
Which kind of jumping rope do or did you do?
I skipped rope alone or with my friends.
hlkljgk says:
solo
whoisbid says:
yes I did it alone
ElizabethJeanAllen says:
I would play double dutch when I had the chance but more often than not, we had single jump ropes.
Joan4 says:
Oh I would love to say I did double Dutch. I love to watch them. But no, I just plain ol' jumped with friends or by myself!
OhMe says:
I mainly just jumped by myself although I did Double Dutch some
Margo_Arrowsmith says:
lol Well double dutch is cooler on so many levels, but I much harder and I never did it. Never heard of it though
I did Double Dutch.
Pinkchic18 says:
We tried double dutch at recess time, but not sure we were ever that good at it!
mnriver says:
i worked at a foster home and we had the kids doing double dutch. i am trying to remember some of the songs.
capriliz says:
I can't believe that at one time I actually jumped Double Dutch!
BuckHawk says:
Double dutch was something that I wasn't really good at, but it was such a favorite for my friends that I had to learn.
ClassyGals says:
I used to love to jump rope and actually won school championship.
Jump Rope Rhyme: Teddy Bear
Teddy Bear Jump Rope Song
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn around!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Touch the ground!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Walk upstairs,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Say your prayers.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn off the light,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Say good-night!
Jump Rope Rhyme: Spanish Dancer
Another Favorite Jump Rope Song
Not last night, but the night before
Twenty-four robbers came
Knocking at my door.
I went out (and the child jumps out of the rope)
While they went in (she runs around the person swinging, and then she jumps back in from the other side)
All they wanted was a bottle of gin!
Spanish lady, turn around, round, round!
Spanish lady, touch the ground, ground, ground!
Spanish lady, point your shoe, shoe, shoe!
Spanish lady, twenty-three skidoo, skidoo, skidoo!
(The child jumping performs all the actions mentioned. For "twenty-three skidoo," she does a little dance.)
More Articles About Jump Rope
Check These Out
- Jump Rope Songs
- Jump rope songs have been passed down from kid to kid over the years.
What Was Your Favourite Jump Rope Song?
Please let me know you were here.
-
-
thepreschooltoolbox
Apr 24, 2012 @ 2:22 pm | delete
- Love, Love "Anna Banana" Jump Rope Rhymes:) Nice lens! TY!
-
-
-
LubosLabik
Apr 18, 2012 @ 5:20 pm | delete
- I don't remember If I have ever had some jump rope song. Great lens :)
-
-
-
Pinkchic18
Mar 22, 2012 @ 12:40 pm | delete
- Awesome lens! My favorite was always mary mack, loved jump roping!
-
-
-
hlkljgk Jan 3, 2012 @ 9:10 pm | delete
- i love jumping rope still, and my favorite type of rope is the beaded one. perfectly weighted.
-
-
-
BLemley
Oct 27, 2011 @ 11:37 pm | delete
- Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear! Chinese jumprope was another favorite! Great lense ~ thanks for a great collection of childhood memories. Jump rope was definitely a favorite play activity ~ great for socializing, too!
-
-
-
TraciClevo
Feb 20, 2012 @ 8:11 pm | delete
- Trying to teach my daughter teddy bear,teddy bear..what were the words(Im 44&for the life of me,cant remember!)
-
-
-
sheilamarie Feb 21, 2012 @ 1:12 pm | delete
- If you look just above, Traci, you'll see the words. Just after the duel.
-
-
-
whoisbid
Sep 3, 2011 @ 2:29 am | delete
- This is to let you know that I was here and think you chose a fun topic
-
-
-
MonikaWeise Aug 23, 2011 @ 5:11 pm | delete
- What a fun lens. Thanks for reminding me about jump rope.
-
-
-
debnet
May 19, 2011 @ 12:46 pm | delete
- Did you ever, did you ever in your long legged life.....
Blessed by a squidoo Angel ;)
-
- Load More
Skip Rope Song
by the McGarrigle Sisters and Emmylou Harris
Care to Join Another Writing Site?
Wizzley Is a Lot of Fun and Includes Lots of Other Squidoo Writers
Jump Rope Rhymes and Chants
Click on one or more of these links to find the words to lots of jump rope rhymes and songs
- Here is a list of jump rope rhymes.
- How many of these rhymes do you remember?
- These jump rope rhymes were contributed by a variety of people who remembered them from their childhood. Some of the contributors are still children!
- See if the rhymes you sang were the same as these songs!
- Chants and Taunts, Clapping Games, and Jump Rope Rhymes
- The page begins with a picture of Uncle Buck!
- Jump Rope Songs
- Talks about the health benefits of jumping rope as well as gives the words to songs.
- Homeschooling site from the UK
- Claims to have one of the larger collections of jump rope songs on the web. A good goal, perhaps.
- The Mud Cat Cafe
- Another extensive list arranged alphabetically
Blue October's Song "Jump Rope"
Here's a Flash Mob on a Campus Cafeteria
Oh, "Life's like a jump rope, yeah."
Index for Jump Rope Songs, Rhymes and Chants
Revisit Your Favorite Section by Clicking on the Buttons
by sheilamarie
Jumping rope was one of my favorite pastimes when I was a little girl. Many of the jump rope songs, rhymes and chants are in my head even today!
- 123 featured lenses
- Winner of 25 trophies!
- Top lens » Jump Rope Songs, Rhymes, and Chants
Explore related pages
- Children Learn Through Play Children Learn Through Play
- Help Your Child Become a Reader Help Your Child Become a Reader
- Hula Hoops Are Fun Hula Hoops Are Fun
- Little Boy Blue from Mother Goose Little Boy Blue from Mother Goose
- Mother Goose Mother Goose
- Mouse Stories in Children's Books and Nursery Rhymes Mouse Stories in Children's Books and Nursery Rhymes
Hot Pepper Collection of Jump Rope Songs
Jump Rope Songs and Chants
Red Hot Peppers: The Skookum Book of Jump Rope Games, Rhymes, and Fancy Footwork
Amazon Price: $39.00 (as of 06/01/2012)
Sounds like a fun collection!
If you click through to the Amazon site, you may find a used version for a fraction of the cost listed here! Some of these copies may even be as good as new.
Rowdy Ropes Jump Rope Songs
Includes CD and Book
Rowdy Ropes Jump Rope CD and Book
Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
For preschool through elementary ages.
Pocket Poems
Little Books of Poems
