Eye Winker, Tom Tinker Lyrics
A face game for babies and toddlers: touch each eye, the nose, the mouth and the chin, one name for each.
Eye Winker, Tom Tinker
Eye winker,
Tom Tinker,
Nose dropper.
Mouth eater,
Chin chopper,
Chin chopper.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/eye-winker-tom-tinker/
- Type
- Action Songs
- Tune
- Spoken face game
- Best for ages
- Babies to 3 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Eye winker, Tom Tinker | Touch one eye gently, then the other. |
| Nose dropper | Touch the tip of the nose. |
| Mouth eater | Touch the lips softly. |
| Chin chopper, chin chopper | Tickle under the chin twice. |
What Does Eye Winker, Tom Tinker Mean?
Each part of the face gets a silly name. The eye winker is the eye that winks, Tom Tinker is the other eye, the nose dropper is the nose, the mouth eater is the mouth, and the chin chopper is the chin. Babies learn the parts of the face while giggling at the names.
History and Origin
James Orchard Halliwell prints the rhyme in The Nursery Rhymes of England, explaining that the parts of the face are touched as the lines are said. In his time the game ended with a playful tap under the chin; today a tickle is the kinder, safer way to finish, so no little tongue gets nipped.
Learning Activities
- Face game: say it slowly at first, then faster with a tickle at the end.
- Safety first: tickle the chin instead of tapping it, so baby's tongue stays safe.
- Doll turn: let a toddler play the game on a teddy or doll.