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Mimsies, clapsies? Origin?
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Subject: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: Mrrzy Date: 05 Jul 01 - 12:28 PM It's a song to accompany a single child throwing a ball against a wall, and catching it. Every throw you do something fancy and different. I learned this as a small child, but my sisters already knew, and nobody knows where they learned it, anybody know? Mimsies And then when you repeat, you do Clapsies on every throw in addition to what the rhyme says, and so on. It has a definite tune that isn't the same as anything else I know. |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: IanC Date: 05 Jul 01 - 12:35 PM This sounds like Plansies Clapsies. Apparently there is a version of this in "An American Methodology" by Lamar Robertson and Ann Eisen. I don't have a copy, though.
Cheers!
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: Les from Hull Date: 05 Jul 01 - 12:36 PM There are lots of these ball rhymes, skipping rhymes passed on from child to child with little or no adult help. There's a good book by the Opies (Peter and Iona) about this and someone'll be along in a minute to tell you all about it! |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: Night Owl Date: 05 Jul 01 - 01:05 PM Version I learned (from the older kids) Plainsies Clapsies Roll the ball (??) Tabapsies...(tap both shoulders) Highkasies Lowkasies Touch my knees Touch my toes Over my shoulder...(ball thrown while facing backwards) And away we go...(twirl around) Mrrzy.thanks for the memories!! I have to go to work now and pretend to be an "adult".......... |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: Mrrzy Date: 05 Jul 01 - 02:09 PM You're welcome, Night Owl! It kinda sprang fully-remembered from my brain the other day, I hadn't thought about it in, say, 30+ years... definitely sounds like the same song. Are you in the UK, which would make it very interesting? And I'll look forward to hearing from the "someones" with those references... |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 06 Jul 01 - 06:52 AM Children's Games in Street and Playground Iona and Peter Opie - it's out of print, of course. That's how it goes.
And here is a nice little school website about playground games that I came across. I think there are quite a few like this.
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: Drumshanty Date: 06 Jul 01 - 07:46 AM My mum (Scottish) taught me more or less the same thing but with two balls. That was about 25 years ago mind you - I don't think I could do it now but I have a sudden urge to try. I also distinctly remember my dad, who is from Belfast, telling me that it was the same game as the weegirls in his street played. Tracy |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,Rochelle Date: 31 Mar 12 - 12:33 AM My version I learned as a child growing up in Newton MASS was Plainsies, clapsies, roll the ball to bapsies, right hand, left hand, high ball, low ball, touch my knee, touch my toe, touch my heel and under we go !!!! It boggles my mind that I still remember this childhood memory... I played it all the time. Miss those innocent days. |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: Little Robyn Date: 31 Mar 12 - 04:25 AM In the 50s, here in NZ we said: Plainsies, clapsies, Twirly whirley, backsies, Right hand, left hand, Under the arch, through the trees, Jump the fence, touch the ground, Turn around, curtsies. The kids today don't seem to know it so I recently tried to teach my grandaughter but she's only 6 and has bother even catching balls at the moment. Maybe next year. Robyn |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,Betty Sackett Rossi Date: 04 Apr 13 - 11:36 AM I don't know who taught it to us, but we said: Plainsies, clapsies, roll the ball, to bapsies, right hand, left hand, touch my knee, touch my toe, touch my heel and away we go. Once upon a time, a million years ago! How sad that the kids today don't play outside. |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,Mark Date: 19 Apr 13 - 01:25 PM For us it went: Plainsies [toss ball in the air and catch it] Clapsies [toss ball in the air, clap twice, and catch it] Twirl about [toss ball in the air, spin around, and catch it] To bapsies [or some word like that. Toss ball, touch opposite shoulders, catch ball] Right hand [toss and catch ball with right hand] Left hand [same with left hand] Touch your knee [toss ball, touch knee, catch ball] Touch your toe [toss ball, touch toe, catch ball] Touch your heel [toss ball, touch heel, catch ball] And away we go. [toss ball between legs; catch ball] Repeat the cycle - but with two claps after each toss. Repeat the cycle - but spin around after each toss. Etc. until you toss the ball between your legs each time. Once you miss, you have to start over. |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,Paul Smith Date: 18 May 13 - 07:25 PM At 1.22 in this old BFI film you can see and hear a child playing it http://youtu.be/9DrGijdmBqU |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,Emily Date: 16 Dec 16 - 08:13 PM In Brooklyn, NY in the early 60s.... A Mimi A claps you I roll my hands Touch backs My right hand My left hand A high ball A low ball Touch my knee Touch my toe Touch my heel And over I go One cold would do this with a pink "spaldeen" ball. I just taught it to my grandchildren! |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: Mrrzy Date: 17 Dec 16 - 08:33 AM Wow, blast from the past. It was a solitaire game, for me, when my sisters wouldn't play with me. I need a little kid to teach this to! |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,Gail Date: 10 Jun 17 - 12:40 PM So interesting to see the different versions! I've recently been trying to recall all details of this little rhyming game we played with a pink Spaulding ball. Thank you for helping me remember the few lines I was missing! Our solitaire ball game was very similar to "GUEST Mark"'s ^. In Fordham Hill in the Bronx, NY; mid-1960s: A mimsy A clapsy I roll my hands Touch back-sy My right hand My left hand High as the sky Low as the sea I touch my knee And my heal And my toe Now over we go! |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,dischmid Date: 08 Mar 18 - 09:23 PM Our version in the ‘50s in Northern Minnesota: Plainsies Clapsies Roll-the-ball (while rolling our hands around each other) To backsies (touching both shoulders) Right hand Left hand High water (bounce ball high) Low water (bounce ball low) Touch your heel Touch your toe Touch your knee And away we go! (Lift leg and bounce the ball under it) -Repeat the cycle clapping before each move -Repeat rolling hands before each move -Etc. |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,Rivereclown..learned from my sister and her Date: 11 Mar 18 - 08:30 AM Queensies Clapsies Twirlabout Tabapsies Highsities Lowsities Right hand Left hand Touch my knee Touch my toe Touch my heel And under we go chanted while bouncing a ball and catching it..never knew where it originated or what " Tabapsies " meant either |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST,Joanne Date: 11 Jun 18 - 11:17 AM What we used to say is: Mime a clapsie Roll my ball a babsie High go seek Low go seek Touch my knee Touch my heel Touch my toe and under we go (go under bend knee) (from the 50's) |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: GUEST Date: 30 May 19 - 03:23 PM Search myself today for origin of game we called mimsies. My chant was almost identical to one who began this thread. I am now 69 years old and played the game in Philadelphia.we played in pairs competitively or as a solitaire game. |
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Subject: RE: Mimsies, clapsies? Origin? From: Mrrzy Date: 30 May 19 - 09:51 PM Plainsies makes sense. Mimsies (all mimsy were the borogroves?) less so. |
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