# Hickety Pickety Bumblebee

"Hickety Pickety Bumblebee" is a name game for groups: each child says their name in turn, and the class echoes it back — clapping, snapping, whispering and finally mouthing the syllables silently.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | traditional classroom name game; author unknown |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/hickety-pickety-bumblebee/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

Hickety pickety bumblebee,
Who can say their name for me?

### Verse 2 (en)

(Each child says their name. Class repeats it.)

### Verse 3 (en)

Clap it! (Clap the syllables.)
Snap it! (Snap the syllables.)
Whisper it! (Whisper the name.)
No sound! (Mouth the name silently.)

## How to sing it

1. Sing "Hickety pickety bumblebee, who can say their name for me?" then point to one child.
2. The child says their name; the whole group repeats it back.
3. Play with the syllables of the name: clap them, snap them, whisper them, then mouth them with no sound.

## Common questions

**How do you play "Hickety Pickety Bumblebee"?**

As a name game. The group sings the opening line and invites one child to say their name; everyone repeats it back. Then they play with the name's syllables — clapping them, snapping them, whispering them, and finally mouthing them silently — before moving on to the next child.

**What is "Hickety Pickety Bumblebee" good for?**

Learning names and hearing syllables. It is a favourite at the start of a school year because it helps a group learn everyone's name, and clapping and whispering the syllables gives an early feel for how words break into beats.

**Who wrote "Hickety Pickety Bumblebee"?**

No author is recorded. It is a traditional classroom and circle-time name game, passed on among teachers with many small variations.

## Sources

- [Beth's Notes — Hickety Pickety Bumblebee](https://www.bethsnotesplus.com/2015/12/hickety-pickety-bumblebee.html)
- [All Nursery Rhymes — Hickety Pickety Bumblebee](https://allnurseryrhymes.com/hickety-pickety-bumblebee/)