The rhyme starts with the words: “Open, shut them, open, shut them.”
Children move their hands to match the words:
“Open” → spread fingers wide.
“Shut” → close fingers into a fist.
Example: Imagine a flower.
When the sun rises, it opens.
At night, it closes.
Just like the flower, children open and close their hands in the rhyme.
Learning About Opposites
The rhyme teaches children the concept of opposites in a playful way.
Open ↔ Shut
Open means wide apart.
Shut means closed or together.
Example:
Open the door ↔ Shut the door.
Open your eyes ↔ Shut your eyes.
Other opposites in the rhyme can be understood too:
Big ↔ Small
Fast ↔ Slow
This rhyme makes opposites easy to remember because the body shows the action.
Listening Skills
The rhyme encourages active listening.
Children must listen carefully to the teacher’s voice and act at the correct time.
Example:
If the teacher says “Open” and you close your hands, it means you were not listening carefully.
To match the action, you need to pay attention.
This builds focus and concentration in kids.
Hand and Finger Movements
“Open, Shut Them” is also a finger-play rhyme.
That means children use their fingers to act out the song.
Hands open like a flower.
Hands shut like a fist.
Hands clap to make sound.
Hands creep up slowly to the chin.
Hands go in the lap to show rest.
Example:
When you clap, the sound tells your brain you did the action correctly.
When you creep fingers up, it feels like a little adventure.
This improves hand-eye coordination and muscle control.
Expression and Fun
The rhyme is not just about hands—it is also about feelings and expressions.
When children act out the song, they smile, laugh, and enjoy the fun.
Example:
When you “open” your hands wide, it feels like saying hello.
When you “shut” them, it feels like saying goodbye.
It connects actions to emotions, which helps kids express themselves better.
Learning Self-Control
One important part of the rhyme says:
“Put them in your lap.”
This line teaches children that after playing and moving, we also need to rest and keep calm.
It is like saying: “Now sit quietly and listen.”
Example:
After clapping, you rest your hands in your lap.
After running, you sit down to take a break.
This teaches discipline in a fun way.
Classroom Uses
Teachers use “Open, Shut Them” in schools because:
It is a warm-up activity before lessons.
It helps children settle down after play.
It is a great way to start circle time or story time.
Example:
A teacher may sing this rhyme before reading a story.
It makes children sit quietly and get ready to listen.
Skills Children Learn
Through this rhyme, kids learn many early skills:
Language Skills
They hear new words like “open,” “shut,” “clap,” “lap.”
They understand meaning through actions.
Example: When they say “clap,” they also clap.
So, word and action connect.
Motor Skills
Finger and hand movements strengthen muscles.
Children improve control over small actions.
Example: Creeping fingers slowly up to the chin builds control.
Cognitive Skills
Kids learn to follow instructions.
They understand order (first open, then shut).
Example: If they forget the order, they realize the rhyme doesn’t work.
Social Skills
Singing in a group builds friendship.
Everyone does the same actions, which creates unity.
Example: The whole class claps together like a team.
Rhythm and Music
The rhyme is musical and has a steady rhythm.
The words match the beat.
Actions follow the rhythm.
Example:
When children clap, the sound matches the beat of the song.
This helps kids understand timing and music patterns.
Real-Life Connections
The rhyme connects to real-life situations:
We open and shut doors.
We clap when we are happy.
We rest our hands when we finish work.
Example:
At home, after washing hands, children open and shut their fingers to dry them.
That’s the same movement from the rhyme.
Creative Activities with the Rhyme
Teachers and parents can extend the rhyme into activities:
Drawing Activity
Draw pictures of hands open and hands shut.
Game Activity
Play “Simon Says” using the rhyme.
Example: Simon says, “Open them!”
(children open hands).
Story Extension
Tell a story about a little bird that opens its wings and shuts them.
These activities make the rhyme more fun and memorable.
Moral and Life Lessons
Though it is a simple rhyme, it teaches big lessons:
Listen carefully.
Follow instructions.
Balance play and rest.
Enjoy learning with friends.
Example:
When you put hands in your lap, it teaches you to be patient and wait for your turn.
Summary of Key Points
“Open, Shut Them” is a rhyme with hand movements.
It teaches opposites like open ↔ shut.
It builds listening skills and focus.
It improves finger control and hand coordination.
It helps children learn self-control by resting hands in the lap.
It is useful in classrooms as a warm-up or quiet-time song.
It teaches language, motor, cognitive, and social skills.
It connects with real life and everyday activities.
It gives joy, rhythm, and teamwork.
Conclusion
“Open, Shut Them” may look like a small and simple rhyme, but it is very powerful in learning.
It helps children grow in many ways—physically, mentally, and socially.
It shows how music and actions together can make learning magical.
So, every time children sing “Open, shut them, open, shut them,” they are not just having fun—they are learning life skills that will help them forever.
