This new – first!- grandchild has inspired many thoughts, feelings, actions. One is about play and all its many facets. The memory of rhymes with hand gestures occurred very early after his birth and it won’t be long before "Round and round the race track Grandma chases the bear, one step, two step, tickle under there" and "Patty Cake" and "Clap Handsies" and "Peek a Boo, I See You" and "Here’s the Church, Here’s the Steeple, Open the Door and See All the People" will be enthusiastically engaged in to, hopefully, both our delights.
Later there will be shadow puppets using simply a light source and a hand. Cat’s cradle with a string and ten fingers.
Later still will be the coin appearing from behind an ear. And one of my favorites – the "Pulled in Half Thumb." Do you know this one?
With left hand, palm facing, bend thumb so it points down into palm. Take right hand and also bend thumb so it faces down into palm. Now bring palms together at a ninety-degree angle with the right hand thumb vertical to the horizontal left hand thumb. Put right index finger over the place where the two thumbs touch each other. Hold hands up with left palm facing yourself; from the other side it looks as if the left thumb is lying straight out and by moving the right hand away from the left hand, it looks as if the left thumb has separated.
I hope to remember many more!