Recently, I shared our Take a Break! Cards that we are using to break-up our homeschool day. One of those cards says, “Play hand-clapping games for 3 minutes.” While participating in Occupational Therapy with my oldest, I learned the importance of hand-clapping games with children.
I already knew that hand-clapping games were somewhat important in developing coordination from my experience as an elementary music teacher, but only after experiencing improvements firsthand with my daughter, did I realize just how important the learning of hand-clapping games are to the development of both motor and cognitive skills.
Don’t think hand-clapping games are important to your child’s education? Think again. Check out this list of benefits by Miss Jaime O.T. Hand-clapping games improve motor skills, increase reading proficiency, help with bilateral coordination, instill a steady rhythm, provide a fun form of socialization, and much more.
6 Hand-Clapping Games to Teach Your Kids
Here are a few fun hand-clapping games to begin your hand-clapping experience. Some hand-clapping games are not appropriate for kids or are just an advertising gimmick. That said, these hand-clapping games below do NOT promote a product, physical affection, the talk of boyfriends, unhealthy food, or the like. They are listed in order of difficulty from least difficult to most difficult. Begin where you think appropriate and have fun clapping!
Love this! I’ve said so many times that I wanted to teach the girls some hand clapping games. With seven daughters, we should know how to do this. Thanks so much!
LOL. Well now you will and with 7 girls that is going to be oodles of fun! Enjoy!
I love all the videos! What a great idea, Kathy!
Thanks Jaime. Glad you liked them!
In Girl Scouts I’ve taught my girls the Sarasponda song (mostly just nonsense words. It’s a little harder, and we usually use rhythm sticks), but it’s a lot of fun!
That is a good song too! I remember singing that one with my kids in school. Good call!