Wind the Bobbin Up facts for kids

"Wind the Bobbin Up" is a well-known English language children's nursery rhyme and singing game. It's a fun song that often includes actions, making it a favorite for young children and their families.

The Words You Sing

Many nursery rhymes have special actions that go along with the words. The most common lyrics for "Wind the Bobbin Up" today are:

• Wind the bobbin up,
• Wind the bobbin up,
• Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap.
• Wind it back again,
• Wind it back again,
• Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap,
• Point to the ceiling,
• Point to the floor,
• Point to the window,
• Point to the door,
• Clap your hands together, 1, 2, 3,
• And place them gently upon your knee.

Where Did This Song Begin?

Experts who study children's rhymes, like Iona and Peter Opie, have traced "Wind the Bobbin Up" back to the Netherlands. They believe it first became popular around the 1890s.

When the Opies were collecting information about children's games in the 1960s and 1970s, they found an older version of the song's words. This earlier version was:

• Wind the bobbin up,
• Wind the bobbin up,
• Pull, pull,
• Tug, tug, tug.

How to Play the Game

The game that goes with "Wind the Bobbin Up" has changed over time.

Older Ways to Play

In the 1970s, the game often involved two players. They would wind their fists around each other as they sang "Wind the bobbin up." When they reached "Pull, Pull," they would push their fists away. For "Tug, Tug," they would pull their elbows back.

Modern Actions

Today, "Wind the Bobbin Up" is usually a calmer action game. Small children often do the actions described directly in the lyrics. For example, they might pretend to wind a bobbin, clap their hands, and point to different parts of the room.