# Open, Shut Them

"Open, Shut Them" is a favourite English hand-action song for very young children: the hands open and shut, clap, creep up to the chin and down to the toes, and finally fly up to bop you on the nose.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | traditional action song; author unknown |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | dancing, playful |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/open-shut-them/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Give a little clap.
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Put them in your lap.

### Verse 2 (en)

Creep them, crawl them, creep them, crawl them,
Right up to your chin.
Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in!

### Verse 3 (en)

Creep them, crawl them, creep them, crawl them,
Right down to your toes.
Let them fly up in the air,
And bop you on the nose.

### Verse 4 (en)

Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Give a little clap.
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Put them in your lap.

## How to sing it

1. Open and close your fists on "open, shut them", then clap and drop them in your lap.
2. "Creep" your fingers slowly up towards your chin, then back down to your toes.
3. Let the hands "fly up" and gently bop your own nose at the end for a giggle.

## Common questions

**How do you play "Open, Shut Them"?**

With your hands. You open and shut your fists, give a little clap, and rest your hands in your lap; then your fingers "creep and crawl" up to your chin and down to your toes, before flying up to bop you on the nose. Every line has its own movement.

**What is "Open, Shut Them" good for?**

Building hand control and following directions. For babies and toddlers it is a gentle way to practise opening and closing the hands, clapping, and moving slowly and quickly on cue — all wrapped in a game that ends in a tickle.

**Who wrote "Open, Shut Them"?**

No author is recorded. It is a traditional action song passed down in nurseries and playgroups, with many small regional variations in the words.

## Sources

- [Mama Lisa's World — Open, Shut Them](https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=121)