Here Are the Lady's Knives and Forks

A fingerplay rhyme where the hands form the shapes of the objects: interlocked fingers for knives/forks, flat hands for table, etc. Also known as "Here are Mother's Knives and Forks," this traditional fingerplay has a melody resembling "Pop Goes the Weasel" and is part of a rich tradition of children's hand games spanning centuries through oral tradition. The broader history of fingerplays includes contributions from educational pioneers like Friedrich Froebel in the mid-19th century and Emilie Poulsson in the late 19th century, with roots in African traditions of call and response and European games dating back to the 17th century.