One potato, two potato facts for kids

"One potato, two potato" is a classic children's counting-out rhyme. Sometimes it is called "One potato, two potatoes". This rhyme often comes with special hand actions. It helps kids decide who goes first in a game or who is "it."

What the Rhyme Says

This rhyme has many different versions. But it often starts with these lines:

One potato, two potato, three potato, four
Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more.

This rhyme is very popular in many countries. You can hear it in places like Britain, the USA, Canada, and Australia. No one knows exactly when it started. But the first time it was written down was in 1885 in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Different Ways to Say It

There are many ways to say "One potato, two potato." Some people say "two potatoes" instead of "two potato." Other versions might use different words like "spud," "tate," or "apple" instead of "potato."

Some rhymes end with "seven potato, raw." Other versions keep going with more numbers. For example, some might say, "Eight potato, nine potato, ten potato all." Or they might just say, "One bad spud!"

How to Play the Game

The game usually starts with everyone putting their hands out. They make their hands into a fist. One child says the rhyme. They tap each person's fist, one by one, as they say each word.

When the rhyme ends on the word "more," the person whose fist was tapped puts that fist behind their back. The game continues like this. Fists are tapped and put away until only one fist is left. The child with the last fist becomes "it" for the game. This rhyme can also be used for other games, like skipping.

How Popularity Changes

The popularity of counting-out rhymes changes over time. In 1969, experts found that "One potato, two potato" was used all the time in the UK and USA. It was very well known throughout the 20th century.

However, by 2010, it was still famous but not always the first choice for British children. Other games became more popular. For example, a game called "Coca Cola" became very common. In this game, children say, "Coca Cola / Pepsi Cola / Coca Cola / Split."

The "Coca Cola" game has similar actions to "One potato, two potato." Players start with their hands clasped together. When the counter taps them on "Split," they separate their hands into two fists. Then the game continues as before.

Music Recording

In 1964, a music group called The Dovells recorded a song. It was called "One Potato – Two Potato – Three Potato – Four." It was a fun, extended song based on the rhyme.