This funny little hand game is from Dancing Hand, Trotting Pony by Wilma Ellersiek.
Because this is a whole hand game, done with the fists, I’ve used it in my parent child classes. The littlest ones aren’t really developmentally ready to do finger games themselves. You can do finger games as touching games with them, though.
And they sure enjoyed bouncing their hands around with this silly hand game!
It’s a rhyme, it’s a story, it’s a hand game!
It took me a while to really get the words down, although as I look at them now, they seem pretty straightforward.
My challenge was that I didn’t really think of it as a story. As a story it’s easy to remember. Pum and Pom like each other. They go for a walk and come home. After a little rest, they jump and then climb. Finally they fall in the mud and run away.
You can do it, too! And have fun with it. Keep the words handy the first few times, if that helps.
When I did a new circle in my classes, I usually kept a copy of the circle in my pocket so I could pull it out and take a look if I forgot something. It happens!
Here’s another story/song about the gnome’s day–one to act out or make into a puppet story, if you want. It’s another one that still makes me smile even after knowing it for many years.
Here’s the video!
Pum and Pom Hand Game–the words
Here are the words for Pum and Pom-have fun!
Pum and Pom, each brother
Is fond of the other.
Pum and Pom, they walk together:
Walk-walk-walk-walk
Into the world they walk.
Turn around and walk together:
Walk-walk-walk-walk
Back, back home they walk.
And from their quest they rest.
They’re jumping now; just see how.
Pum over Pom, Pom over Pum,
Pum over Pom, Pom over Pum,
Pum-Pom-Pum-Pom.
Hop-hop-hop-and stop!
Now once again, to and fro,
Pum and Pom jump no mo’e.
They’re climbing now, just see how.
Pum on Pom, Pom on Pum,
Pum on Pom, Pom on Pum,
Pum-Pom-Pum-Pom.
Higher-higher-way up high,
Oh, my!
They sit there dizzily,
All fearfully.
Thud!
They lie in the mud!
Pum and Pom do not stay,
They run-run-run away!
Thanks for stopping by
I hope you try this one out. Wilma Ellersiek’s verses sometimes seem a little strange to me, but the children have always loved them. Let me know how it goes.
And have a great week.
xoxo