# Grandmother's Glasses

"Grandmother's Glasses" is a gentle finger-play in which the child mimes Grandma's spectacles and hat and her folded hands — then does the same for Grandpa, who folds his arms and takes a little nap.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | traditional finger-play; author unknown |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/grandmother-s-glasses/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

These are Grandma's glasses.
This is Grandma's hat.
And this is the way she folds her hands
And lays them in her lap.

### Verse 2 (en)

These are Grandpa's glasses.
This is Grandpa's hat.
And this is the way he folds his arms
And takes a little nap.

## How to sing it

1. Make circles with your fingers around your eyes for the glasses, and a peaked shape over your head for the hat.
2. Fold your hands quietly in your lap on "folds her hands / lays them in her lap".
3. For Grandpa, make bigger glasses and a bigger hat, fold your arms, and pretend to nap.

## Common questions

**How do you play "Grandmother's Glasses"?**

As a finger-play with quiet, calming actions. You mime Grandma's round glasses and her hat, then fold your hands softly in your lap. The second verse does the same for Grandpa — bigger glasses, bigger hat — who folds his arms and takes a little nap.

**What is "Grandmother's Glasses" good for?**

Settling down. Because the actions get slower and quieter, ending with folded hands or a pretend nap, it is often used to calm a group of children — a soothing finger-play rather than an energetic one.

**Who wrote "Grandmother's Glasses"?**

No author is recorded. It is a traditional finger-play passed on in nurseries, with common variations that add a grandpa verse (as here).

## Sources

- [Songs for Teaching — The Grandmother's Glasses fingerplay](https://www.songsforteaching.com/fingerplays/grandmasglasses.htm)