10 of the Best Clapping Games of all Times for Kids

Hand-clapping games have been a beloved part of childhood for generations, offering endless fun while teaching valuable skills.

From classic rhymes like “Pat-A-Cake” to more intricate games like “The Cup Game,” these activities are more than just playful pastimes—they help children develop coordination, rhythm, and social skills.

Here are 10 great clapping games for preschool and kindergarten kids.

10 Clapping Games for Preschoolers

There are a huge variety of games to choose from. Some are more suitable for small kids in preschool, while others are a bit more challenging as they require more coordination. 

You can even make up your own as you go as they are easy to do and fun for your kids. Some can be solo clapping games with only one child, while others can be played with a group. 

1. Story Time Clap

While you read a story, you can have children clap along. Every time you mention a particular word, such as “monkey,” they must clap to the word. This is a great way to teach listening. 

You can read a story, or simply tell your own story. You can change the difficulty as needed, such as doing multiple words or even phrases. 

The next 3 games are all hand-clapping rhymes. These are some of the most commonly known. There are so many of them to choose from, and you can make up your own as well.

2. Pat-A-Cake

Also known as Patty Cake, this is a classic game with simple movements.

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Pat it and roll it and mark it with a “b“
And put it in the oven for Baby and me

Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it up, roll it up;
And throw it in a pan!
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man.

3. Miss Mary Mack

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 fifty cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants (or hippos or cows)
Jump the fence, fence, fence.

They jumped so high, high, high
They reached the sky, sky, sky
And didn’t (or never) come back, back, back
Till the 4th of July ly ly.

She asked her mother, mother, mother
For 5 cents more, more, more
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
Jump the door, door, door.

They jumped to the flow, flow, flow
They stubbed their toe, toe, toe
And that was the end, end, end
Of the elephant show, show, show.

Typically, you simply clap along with the words. You can point to pretend buttons and your back to add alternative movements. 

Other versions have you clap your hands and thighs along with a partner. You can decide according to how many kids you have and what they prefer to do as well. 

4. Double Double 

Double, double, this, this,
Double, double, that, that,
Double this, double that,
Double, double, this, that.

The motions are as follows: 

Double: fists bump or hand clap

This: front of your hand, as a clap

That: back of your hand, as a clap

Here are more fun games to play with kids.

5. Lemonade Crunchy Ice

Lemonade
Crunchy ice
Sip it once 
Sip it twice

Lemonade 
Crunchy ice 
Made it once 
Made it twice 

Turn around (Turn around here)
Touch the ground (Touch the ground here)
FREEZE

The lemonade crunchy ice song one is a little more complicated than the previous ones. Once your children have learned the first couple of clapping songs, they should be ready for this. 

For each verse, you will use the up-and-down clap method. One hand is flipped upward while the other is downward. You do this hand-clapping rhyme with a partner. 

With the first verse, after each up and down clap, clap on your own three times. In the second verse, you simply do the up-and-down clap. 

At the end of the song, you will make the motions, as mentioned in the song. When you say “freeze”, you must stand as still as possible. The first person to move loses. 

6. Simon Says Clap Version

This one is basically like the original Simon Says, but you can make clapping motions and other movements to help your kids with their balance and physical movements. 

Only do movements that are related to clapping and extend it to other parts of the body, not just the hands. Have them clap their thighs, or clap behind their backs. 

This will help them learn the different body parts as well as help with crossing the midline and other gross motor skills.

7. Numbers

With this clapping game, you will make a simple clap motion with a partner that goes as follows: 

• First, clap your hands together.
• Then, clap together your right hands.
• Then your left hands.
• Say the number “one” as you go.
• Then repeat, but give the same number of claps as the number you are on.

The goal is to get as high of a number as you can without messing up. You also want to try to go as fast as you can without messing up as well. Start by learning the movements and then help your children work up their speed. 

8. The Cup Game

When the Cup song came out a few years back, everyone wanted to learn the rhythm. Thus, the Cup Game was born. 

Simply get a group of kids together, or even just you and your child, and learn the cup song. It is a very easy pattern to learn. 

Once everyone has learned and got it down pretty well, play the song and make the motions. 

If there are multiple children, go in a circle and actually pass the cup to each other. If not, just keep using the same cup over and over again. 

The goal is to go through the entire song without messing up. However, if you do, just start up again as soon as you can. 

9. Tic Tac Toe

Tic tac toe
Give me an X
Give me an O
Give me three in a row

Then you repeat.

Another version includes doing Rock, Paper, Scissors afterwards as well. 

Follow these hand movements or try the movements in the video below: 

• Put your hands together.
• Hit them on the right and left sides of your partner’s hands.
• Then clap your own hand.
• Clap your partner’s hand on top of your hands, then on the bottom.
• At the bottom after clapping, grab their hand.
• Tap your hip.
• Then snap your fingers in front of you.
• Repeat as often as you like.

10. Concentration 64

Concentration (clap, clap, clap)
Sixty-four (clap, clap, clap)
No repeats (clap, clap, clap)
Or hesitations (clap, clap, clap)
I’ll go first (clap, clap, clap)
You’ll go last (clap, clap, clap)
Category is: (clap, clap, clap)

Then, you simply choose a game category, such as animals. 

The first person then says the first animal that comes to their mind, followed by the three claps. The next person continues. 

You cannot repeat an animal either. The person who takes more than three seconds to say an animal is out. 

It helps the children focus and concentrate on being able to say the right thing at the right time. It also aids in their listening skills. 

These are just a few simple, fun hand-clapping games to teach your kids. Each can be done with only one child or with a larger group.

I hope you’ve discovered some new hand games to play. The Free Activity Pack below includes a printable of more songs and rhymes for kids, so don’t forget to sign up for that!

The Benefits of Hand-Clapping Songs and Games

The importance of play can be seen in the many wonderful benefits of playing hand games. Here are just a few of them.

Coordination

Clapping games are extremely helpful in teaching kids coordination. They help develop hand-eye coordination and general coordination skills. 

Rhythm

Clapping games will definitely teach your children rhythm. They will learn to clap to the beat of all sorts of songs and sing along as well. 

Listening Skills

Many clapping games will teach kids to listen in order to follow instructions. Certain games require them to only clap when they hear a certain word.

Increased Vocabulary

These games will also help build your kids’ vocabulary. Many clapping games involve singing along in addition to clapping and will help them learn new words with each song you sing.

Crossing the Midline

Many clapping games don’t only involve moving the hands; Some use different parts of your body to clap along with.

By doing these movements, your children will learn to cross the midline which furthers their physical and mental development. 

Brain Development

No matter what age, when kids play a clapping game, they are using the frontal lobe of their brain. Each time they play, it strengthens their brain. 

Cognitive Skills

As your children play these games, their level of understanding and thinking will improve, they will learn to communicate better, and so on. Their cognitive skills will skyrocket by playing all kinds of fun, educational games.

Sequencing

Along with learning rhythm, children will also learn about sequences. In many clapping games, you are required to clap a certain way, in a certain order. They will learn to order and sequence the movements as they play.

Social Skills

If played with multiple kids, children will learn social skills as well. They will learn to work together, teach the moves to new children, and develop patience and understanding when they or others get the moves wrong.

Taking the time to play these games often will help your children reap all the amazing benefits, along with spending quality time together.