Daddy plays the "Round and Round the Garden" tickle game with junior

Round and Round the Garden

Round and round the garden,
Like a Teddy bear.
One step,
Two step,
Tickle you under there!

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Posted in All Rhymes, Contemporary / Original, Counting & Learning, Mother Goose Classics, Play & Action

Tagged counting, finger play, garden, round, step, teddy bear, tickle

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Meaning

This playful English nursery rhyme is typically recited to young children while an adult circles a finger on the child’s palm (“round the garden”), then walks fingers up the child’s arm, ending with a tickle (“tickle you under there!”). The rhyme and actions engage children through physical touch and anticipation, making it a favorite for bonding and laughter.

Origin

First collected in Britain in the late 1940s, this rhyme is considered relatively modern due to the reference to a “teddy bear”—a term that became common only in the twentieth century. It likely evolved from older fingerplay verses such as “Round about there.”

Time Period

The known version dates to mid-20th century Britain, though variants based on similar finger games and tickling rhymes may go back further.

Why It Became Popular

Its inclusion of gentle touch, counting, shapes, and anticipation has made it an enduring first rhyme for babies and toddlers. The rhyme’s format is ideal for learning numbers, body awareness, and forming attachments through nurturing play.

Structure and Style

Meter: Simple, bouncing rhythm suited for fingerplay
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB
Line Count: Four lines
Style Notes: Action rhyme, interactive, repetitive

Themes

Playful touch
Shapes and movement
Counting and anticipation
Teddy bears and imagination

Language Notes

The rhyme uses repetition (“round and round”), familiar objects (“teddy bear”), and sequencing (“one step, two step”) to enhance vocabulary and cognitive skills.

Moral or Lesson

Beyond entertainment, the rhyme encourages positive interaction, builds trust, and introduces basic concepts like numbers and shapes in an enjoyable way.

Historical or Cultural Notes

The rhyme is closely tied to the teddy bear craze of the 20th century and has inspired countless interactive variations. Its playful actions echo older English finger-rhymes that served to amuse and comfort children.

Notable Variants

Other versions use different animals or locations (such as “Round and round the haystack”). Regional finger-tickle games often use local animals and objects.

Appearances in Media or Literature

Widely taught in nurseries, featured in children’s songbooks, parenting guides, and early learning television. Its actions and verses are regular staples in early childhood classes.

Suggested Activities

Fingerplay Game: Recite the rhyme with the traditional palm-circling and tickling actions.
Counting Practice: Reinforce “one step, two step” with sequential finger walking and counting activities.
Art Project: Draw a teddy bear in a garden to pair with the rhyme.
Creative Variations: Encourage children to invent new lines using animals or favorite toys.

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