What do they call those rhymes that children use to see who goes first in a game?

Question

are the same ones used all over the country or are there regional variations

Answer 1

I think we called them dibs

Answer 2

...and from Shropshire:

                                          "Eeny-meeny acker-acker,

                                          Air-eye domenacker,

                                          Chickeracker, packeracker,

                                          Om, pom, Push!"

We called them "dips"...

Answer 3

we used to call them dips!

Answer 4

Like "bubble gum, bubbble gum, in a dish; how many pieces do you wish?"

We called them "playground rhymes."

I have heard them, by some, called "circle time games."

Answer 5

Eeny Meeny rhymes?

Answer 6

Engine engine number nine

going down chicago line

if the train falls off the track

do you want your money back?

yes spells yes

and you are not it on your

mother's kitchen floor anymore

lol god, those were the days

but we called them dips too

Answer 7

You call them 'dips' Because usually they start with 'Ip, dip, doo', or in the one I'm about to tell you, 'Ippa dippa dation'

Ippa dippa dation,

my operation

how many people at the station?

(Person says number and the dipper counts the number they say)

Answer 8

we also called them dips..one potato 2 potato 3 potato more

Answer 9

lol dont think they have a name but i can remember doing them...

eeny meenie miney moe

catch a tigger by its toe

if it squeals let it go

eeny meenie miney moe

it will not be you!

Answer 10

They are called firsty wirsty rhymes.

Answer 11

not sure what you mean...

i am guessing

eeny meeny miny moe, catch a tiger, by the toe, if he hollars, let him go, eeny meeny miny moe

skunk in the barn yard... pee eww!

my mother told me to pick the very best one and you are (not) it.

can't think of any more

Answer 12

Rock, paper, scissors - is one of them

We used to sing this alot:

Ib dib dog sh*t, u are not it,

Not because u're dirty,

Not because u're clean

My mother says

u're the fairiest queen

O. U. T spells out u must go

Answer 13

they are called counting rhymes and they do vary

An American Version of eeny, meeny, miny. moe

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

Catch a tiger by the toe

If he hollers let him go,

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeny,_meeny...

One a penny:

One a penny bun,

Two a penny bun,

One a penny, two a penny;

Out goes one!

more counting rhymes and info here:

http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/summer/co...

Answer 14

No idea what they are called, but they were used to see who would be "het" in the game. Our top two were Eeny meeny miney mo and One potato, two potato. Ah, memories!!!

Answer 15

My mother told me to pick the very best one and you are not it!  

I'm not sure what they are called, but I sure remember doing them.

Answer 16

Well, this question brought back memories! Are you talking about the "Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe" counting rhyme?  This is a popular children's rhyme that has been around in various forms since the 1850s and yes it is widely used in several countries and has regional variations . When I was growing up, there were a lot of children in our neighbourhood and we had a large park just across the street that we played in every day.  To see who would go first, or be "it" in a game of tag, we always said the following rhyme:

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe

Catch a chicken by the toe

If it squeals let it go,

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe

You're it!

And, of course, whoever you were pointing at when you reached the final Moe, that child would be "it" or have to go first.  Sometimes, we replaced chicken, with piggy.  Although I grew up in the city, my parents and most of the other parents in our neighbourhood were from farm country - hence, the chicken or piggy in our version.

Answer 17

eeny meeny miny mo

put the baby on the po

when its done

wipe its bum

eeny meeny miny mo

you are not it!

Answer 18

eenie meanie miney mo, catch a tiger by its toe if it hollars let it go...?

Answer 19

Ip, dip, my little ship_____

One potato, two potato____

Eany meany miney moe_____