Singing Games Activity Book - Wallflowers

The Singing Games Activity Book introduces 'Wallflowers', a playful and interactive Irish singing game that involves a circle of children with one child in the centre. The game is set to a catchy tune with simple lyrics that guide the actions of the participants. As the children sing "Wallflowers, wallflowers, climbing up so high," they mimic the action of hands climbing, representing the growth of flowers. When the phrase "May I catch the measles" is sung, the children pretend to tap spots on their faces, and wagging a finger accompanies the line "But never, never, never die!"

The game continues as the children sing about visiting 'Sarah's' house, where the central child walks to a friend and uses their name in the song. The lyrics prompt the children to perform a series of movements: two step-jumps and a turn for "She can tick and tack and turn her back," followed by a wave to the 'congregation' as the named child waves back to the rest of the group. The named child then enters the centre and leads an action, such as clapping, eight times, which everyone joins in. This child becomes the new centre of the circle, and the game carries on with the next round of singing and actions.