#267: Farmer in the Dell

Number of players needed to play Farmer in the Dell: 10 or more.



Players hold hands and dance in circle around one player who is the farmer. As everyone sings the song (below) the farmer picks someone from the circle to be his wife. The wife then picks a child, the child picks a nurse, the nurse picks a dog, the dog picks a cat, the cat picks a mouse, and finally, the mouse picks the cheese. The player who is the cheese becomes the farmer in the next round.

Sing this song as everyone dances:

The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Hi-ho, the Derry-O
The farmer in the dell

The farmer takes a wife
The farmer takes a wife
Hi-Ho, the Derry-O
The farmer takes a wife [He/she picks someone from the circle.]

Sing it again, but each time exchange the words ‘farmer’ for ‘wife,’ then ‘wife’ for ‘child’ (The wife takes a child), then ‘nurse,' then ‘dog,’ then ‘cat,’ then ‘mouse,’ and finally ‘cheese’.


Make this a family activity: Mom or Dad starts by being the farmer.

This activity promotes memory skills, and musical skills.