9 Hand Clapping Games From the 90s to Teach Your Kids
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the most popular hand clapping games from the 90s!
This era was a time of simplicity, when playgrounds were filled with the sound of laughter, sneakers squeaking on blacktops, and the unmistakable rhythm of hand-clapping games.
These games didn’t require fancy equipment or screens—just two hands and a partner ready for endless rounds of rhythmic clapping and catchy songs.
If you’re anything like me, you want to pass this tradition down to your kids! So let’s get started by looking at the 10 most classic hand-clapping games for kids!
10 Hand Clapping Games From the 90s for Young Kids
1. Down By The Banks
“Down by the Banks” was one of the best group hand-clapping games from the 90s! It was often played in circles during recess or sleepovers. This game is all about timing and speed!
How to Play: Players sit in a circle, each placing their right hand on the palm of the person next to them. They sing the chant while passing a slap around the circle. The slap is passed hand to hand until the final word, “ker-plop.” The person whose hand gets slapped on the final word is out, and the game continues until only one player is left.
Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank,
With a hip, hop, hippity hop,
Frogs missed the lily and went ker-plop!
2. Slide
This fast-paced game was one of the more challenging hand-clapping games. In some places, it was known as “Numbers”.
How to Play: Start by facing your partner. Begin with a single “slide” motion, where you slide your hands sideways across each other’s. After the slide, clap your own hands once, then clap one hand with your partner’s opposite hand and do another clap with you and your partner’s other hands. Next, slap the back of your hands together with your partner once, followed by a regular high-five with both hands.
That completes the first round. In the second round, repeat everything twice (except for the initial slide). As the game progresses, continue increasing the number of claps, slaps, and high-fives up to 10 rounds!
There are no lyrics to this game as focusing is key to mastering this game!
3. Pat-A-Cake
While “Pat-a-Cake” is much older than the 90s, it was still a popular hand-clapping game during this time. Its simplicity makes it a great introductory game for toddlers and preschoolers.
How to Play: Start by standing or sitting face-to-face with your partner. Begin by clapping your own hands together. After that, use one of your hands to clap your partner’s opposite hand. Then, clap again with your partner using your other hands.
Repeat this sequence until the following lyrics are over.
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man,
Bake me a cake as fast as you can,
Pat it and prick it and mark it with a ‘B,’
And put it in the oven for baby and me!
To add a little fun to the game, have your child act out the second half of the lyrics.
4. The Cup Game
Ok, well this one wasn’t a hand-clapping game from the 90s, but you definitely played this game when it regained popularity!
How to Play: The game involved a combination of clapping, hitting the table, and moving a cup. Here is a great tutorial on YouTube that shows you exactly how to do the motions.
Most of the time kids play this game while singing the song Cups by Anna Kendrick.
5. Concentration 64
I love this game because kids must utilize their coordination and quick thinking to win!
How to Play: Face your partner. One of your hands should be held high with your palm facing down, and the other hand low with your palm facing up. Your partner will do the opposite so your hands are ready to clap. For each word in the chant, clap your partner’s hands by moving one hand up and the other down, alternating them with each clap. After each word, clap your own hands three times before continuing the pattern.
Once the chant ends, one player will pick a category (such as animals, colors, or ice cream flavors). Players take turns naming something from the chosen category while maintaining the clapping rhythm. The first person to hesitate or repeat an answer is out!
Concentration (3x clap)
Sixty-four (3x clap)
No repeats (3x clap)
Or hesitations (3x clap)
I’ll go first (3x clap)
You’ll go last (3x clap)
Category is: (3x clap)
(Name a category) (3x clap) …
6. Miss Mary Mack
We can’t have a list of hand-clapping games from the 90s without including Miss Mary Mack! I have so many fond memories of playing this game with my peers!
How to Play: Start by standing or sitting face-to-face with your partner. Begin the chant by crossing your arms over your chest touching your right hand to your left shoulder and your left hand to your right shoulder. Then, bring your arms down and slap the tops of your thighs. Next, clap your own hands together one time. After that, give alternating high-fives with your partner—right hand to your partner’s right hand, then left hand to your partner’s left hand. Follow the alternating high-fives with a double high-five, where you clap both hands with your partner’s hands at the same time.
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
Jump over the fence, fence, fence
They jumped so high, high, high
They touched the sky, sky, sky
And didn’t come back, back, back
Till the fourth of July, July, July
7. Four White Horses
This clapping game is especially memorable for its charming, beautiful chant. What makes it great is its flexibility—you can adjust the clapping gestures to suit the age group. This game is typically played with 4 people.
While everyone remembers this differently, here is a common way to play for younger children.
How to Play: The four players will divide into two pairs and stand in a circle, with each pair facing their partner directly across from them. To begin, all players clap their own hands together once to establish the rhythm.
One pair will then reach up to give each other a double high five above the other pair’s hands, while the other pair reaches down to give each other a double low five. After each high or low five, all players clap their own hands once again to reset the rhythm. The pairs will continue alternating between high and low fives, maintaining the steady rhythm throughout the game.
Four white horses on the river,
Hey, hey, hey, up tomorrow,
Up tomorrow is a rainy day,
Come on and join our shadow play,
Shadow play is a ripe banana,
Hey, hey, hey, up tomorrow!
8. Tic Tac Toe
There are two versions of this fun game. One is a simple handshake, whereas the other includes the game of tic tac toe at the end. Here we will learn just the handshake version.
How to Play: Start by placing your own hands together, then hit the right and left sides of your partner’s hands. After that, use your right hand to clap your left hand. Then, using your right hand clap your partner’s hand above and then below your other hand. After the bottom clap, grab their hand, tap your hip, and snap your fingers. Repeat the sequence as many times as you like, speeding up as you go for a fun challenge!
Chant this little rhyme while doing the handshake:
Tic Tac Toe,
Give me a high,
Give me a low,
Give me three in a row!
Here is a great YouTube video that demonstrates both versions.
9. Lemonade, Crunchy Ice
This is one of my favorite hand-clapping games as it encourages children to use their coordination and listening skills! There are many word variations, but here is the one I used growing up!
How to Play:
Stand facing your partner. For the first four verses (“Lemonade, Crunchy ice, Sip it once, Sip it twice”), alternate clapping your partner’s hands by moving one hand up and the other down. Each verse requires two alternating claps with your partner. After each verse, clap your own hands together three times to keep the rhythm.
For verses five and six (“Lemonade, iced tea, Coca Cola, Pepsi”), simply alternate clapping with your partner without clapping your own hands in between.
For the final verses (“Spin around, Touch the ground, Kick that ball right out of town, And freeze!”), act out the lyrics by spinning, touching the ground, pretending to kick a ball, and freezing in place.
Lemonade (clap, clap, clap)
Crunchy ice (clap, clap, clap)
Sip it once (clap, clap, clap)
Sip it twice (clap, clap, clap)
Lemonade, iced tea
Coca Cola, Pepsi
Spin around,
Touch the ground
Kick that ball right out of town
And freeze!
These hand clapping games from the 90s were more than just fun—they were a way to bond, stay active, and challenge your coordination. Whether you were a master of “Slide” or had a favorite rhyme from “Miss Mary Mack,” these games hold a special place in the memories of 90s kids everywhere.
I hope your children can enjoy these games just as much as we did when we were young!