One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
Traditional Nursery Rhyme
Read the One Two Buckle My Shoe poem for kids, a catchy traditional counting rhyme that turns numbers from one to twenty into playful words, actions and memorable sounds.
Enjoy the One Two Buckle My Shoe poem for kids, then explore counting, rhyme words, movement and a quick Froggity number challenge.
🔢 The Counting Rhyme
One, two,
Buckle my shoe;
Three, four,
Shut the door;
Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight,
Lay them straight;
Nine, ten,
A good fat hen;
Eleven, twelve,
Who will delve?
Thirteen, fourteen,
Maids a-courting;
Fifteen, sixteen,
Maids in the kitchen;
Seventeen, eighteen,
Maids a waiting;
Nineteen, twenty,
My plate’s empty.
Read it aloud with a steady beat. Point to each number pair and add the actions as you go.
🌟 Why Kids Enjoy This Classic Rhyme
The rhythm makes the One Two Buckle My Shoe poem for kids easy to join in with. Children can hear predictable sound pairs, practise counting in order and connect numbers with memorable actions. Try touching shoes for “one, two,” pointing to a door for “three, four,” pretending to collect sticks for “five, six,” and placing both hands straight for “seven, eight.” Movement makes the number sequence more physical, playful and easier to remember.
🎨 A Fun After-Rhyme Activity
Make ten simple number cards showing the pairs 1–2, 3–4, 5–6 and so on up to 19–20. Mix them up and let your child arrange them in the correct order. Next, draw a tiny picture beside each pair: a shoe, a door, sticks, straight lines or a hen. Older children can cover one number and guess what is missing. This turns the familiar rhyme into a quick counting, memory and drawing game.
🔤 Play with Numbers and Words
Pause before the second number in each pair and let your child finish it. Say “one…” and wait for “two,” then “three…” and wait for “four.” You can reverse the challenge by asking which number comes before twelve or after sixteen. For early readers, point to the written numbers while speaking them aloud. Children who are beginning to write can copy 1–20, circle the even numbers, or choose one rhyme pair and illustrate it.
🕰️ A Little History for Grown-ups
This traditional counting rhyme appeared in printed nursery-rhyme collections in the early nineteenth century. Historical versions sometimes use slightly different wording, which is common with old rhymes passed between generations. The familiar “Three, four, shut the door” form remains popular because its rhythm is simple, its images are easy to act out and its number sequence gives children a natural path from one to twenty.
