Girls and Boys Come Out to Play Lyrics

Ready for some moonlit magic? This classic rhyme is a secret invitation to adventure, ditching supper and sleep for midnight fun. Let's step into the history and enduring charm of this delightful call to play.

Girls and boys, come out to play, The moon doth shine as bright as day; Leave your supper, and leave your sleep, And come with your playfellows into the street. Come with a whoop, come with a call, Come with a good will or not at all. Up the ladder and down the wall, A half-penny roll will serve us all. You find milk, and I'll find flour, And we'll have a pudding in half an hour.

The history of "Girls and Boys Come Out to Play"

"Girls and Boys Come Out to Play" appeared in print in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book in 1744, making it one of the earliest documented English nursery rhymes. Also known as "Boys and Girls Come Out to Play" or "Come Out to Play," this rhyme likely existed in oral tradition before its first publication.

This rhyme gives us a fascinating peek into what childhood was like way back when. In those days, many children worked all day, so moonlit evenings were rare and special chances to play outside. That's why the rhyme calls kids to "leave your supper, and leave your sleep"—these moonlit nights were certainly worth interrupting routines for! It also reminds us that children often shared resources, like finding "milk" and "flour" together to make a simple pudding.

What kids learn

• The rhythm creates a natural invitation to movement and dance
• The cooperative elements ("You find milk, and I'll find flour") introduce themes of collaboration and sharing
• The vivid nighttime imagery of moonlight and street play stimulates imagination
• The rhyme structure helps develop phonological awareness and early literacy skills

For modern children, this rhyme offers a fascinating contrast to their play experiences, sparking conversations about how kids lived and played in the past.

This article was crafted with the assistance of an AI language model. The final content was reviewed and edited by a human and reflects the editorial judgment and expertise of  Today's Parent.