Down by the Banks

Name and Purpose

• Down by the Banks is a circle rhythm game that builds group timing, anticipation, and joyful suspense.
• Players practise coordination, listening to a shared beat, and taking turns with grace.

a.k.a.

• Hanky Panky Circle, Hand Slap Circle, Banks

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 6-20 players | 5-15 minutes | Comfortable circle space, indoors or outdoors

Materials

• None required.
• Optional: seat cushions or low chairs for players who prefer not to sit on the ground.

Quick-Run Card

1. Sit in a circle. Place right hand on top of left hand of person to your right. Left hand rests under right hand of person to your left.
2. Sing the song together as a group.
3. On the last beat, the player whose hand is hit steps to the Second Circle.
4. Second Circle runs a clapping mirror game so everyone stays active.
5. Last two players in the main circle do the two-hand handshake finale; winner joins the next full round.

Setup and Boundaries

• Sit close enough that all hands overlap comfortably; no reaching across gaps.
• Signal: counsellor’s raised hand = pause; repeat signal = stop.
• Check the floor for any objects before sitting.

How to Play

1. Sit in a circle, knees close to neighbours. Each player places their right hand on top of the left hand of the person to their right, and their left hand under the right hand of the person to their left. All hands are in a continuous overlapping loop around the circle.
2. The group sings together: “Down by the banks of the hanky panky, where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky, with an eeps iipes oups upps, and a uflop a dilly and a uunflop flop, Pepsi Cola ginger ale, ginger ale, ginger ginger ale ginger ale, Pepsi Cola ginger ale, seven-up, seven-up, up, you’re out!”
3. One player taps in rhythm around the hands as the song is sung. On the word “out,” the hand that was just tapped steps to the Second Circle.
4. Second Circle: players in the Second Circle pair up and play a clapping mirror game (one player leads a clapping pattern, the other mirrors it). They stay active until the main round ends.
5. When only two players remain in the main circle, they extend their right hands, clasp them, and do a back-and-forth sawing motion while singing a shortened verse. The player whose hand ends up closer to their own chest on “out” steps to the Second Circle.
6. The winner of the finale joins the next full round as a starter.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Sit in the main circle and tap in rhythm; focus on perfect timing on the last beat.
• S (Support): Help keep the song tempo steady; encourage players who step to the Second Circle.
• Q (Quiet): Sit in the circle and sing softly; tap gently rather than with full force.
• O (Observer): Watch from just outside; help count the taps or lead the clapping mirror game in the Second Circle.

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who prefer not to sit on the floor may use a low chair; adjust the hand overlap to bridge any height difference.
• For players with hand or wrist sensitivities, tapping can be a gentle fingertip touch rather than a full hand slap.

Stewardship Moment

• No materials needed and nothing to clean up.
• Reflection: “This game has been played for generations with nothing but hands and a song. What does that tell us about what we really need to have fun?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This game involves resting your hands on your neighbours’ hands and some light tapping. For those not comfortable with hand contact, sitting just outside the circle and leading the Second Circle activity is another option.”
• Mid-game check: After one full round, a quick thumbs check before starting again.
• Re-entry: Players in the Second Circle can ask to rejoin the main circle at the start of the next round.

Risks and Mitigation

• Tapping too hard: counsellor models a gentle tap at the start and gives one quick reminder if needed.
• Song tempo too fast for the group to follow: slow it down for the first round; speed up as the group gets comfortable.
• Ground sitting discomfort: offer cushions or chairs before the game begins.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Group clap: counsellor sets a rhythm, group mirrors it, then passes the lead around.
• “Hand Stack”: everyone stacks hands in the middle and lifts them off one at a time to the top.

Debrief Questions

• What? “How did it feel when the beat got faster? What happened to your focus?”
• So What? “What helped you stay in time with the group?”
• Now What? “When in your life do you have to stay in sync with people around you even when things speed up?”

Cleanup and Reset

• No materials to collect.
• Players stand and shake out hands and wrists.