[For 1-year-olds] Fun Together! Recommended Songs and Hand Play Collection
One-year-olds are starting to move their hands and bodies and show interest in all sorts of things around them.
When you sing to them, they happily clap along to the rhythm and sway their bodies as they enjoy the music.
So this time, we’ll introduce recommended songs and popular hand-play activities for one-year-olds.
We’ve gathered plenty of hand-play songs that one-year-olds can enjoy singing, including songs with fun repeated words and songs that introduce colors and numbers as you sing.
They’ll surely keep asking, “One more time!”
These are perfect for filling small gaps between activities or as a warm-up!
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[For 1-year-olds] Fun to enjoy together! Recommended songs and hand play collection (21–30)
Donguri Korokoro
The children’s song “Donguri Korokoro” sings about the grand adventure of acorns that you often see on roads and in parks in autumn.
An acorn rolls along and falls into a pond, where it meets a loach and plays together.
But then it gets homesick and ends up crying—this is how the lyrics portray the story.
The lyrics read like a picture book, so the more you listen, the more your child may become interested.
If you add hand motions to match the lyrics, your child will enjoy listening even more.
anpan, shokupan
Let’s enjoy the hand-play song “Anpan Shokupan” with one-year-olds.
The song uses hand motions to represent all kinds of breads that everyone loves.
During the sandwich part, you gently press your cheeks with your hands, which will likely bring out the adorable expressions of the one-year-olds.
It’s fun to try different tempos, like a slow version or a slightly faster version, when you do it.
It’s also recommended as an introduction to activities, such as before free play.
It’s nice to end by having everyone say “Itadakimasu!” and pretend to eat the breads they made together.
apple, mandarin orange, bananaSakushi / Sakkyoku: Tanaka Seiji
This is a fun song with a fruit-themed, lively tune and a rhythmic melody.
It invites playful activities with children—clapping hands, swaying bodies, and pretending to eat fruit along with the song.
Sung by Kentaro Hayami and Ayumi Shigemori, it was broadcast on “Okaasan to Issho” starting in 1994 and was also included on the VHS “Super Hit 16.” It’s perfect not only for family bonding time at home but also for group fun in early childhood settings.
Enjoy playing with children while helping them learn the names of different fruits.
Spring came pop-pop-popsakushi: kozue hikari / sakkyoku: sako shinichirō
Why not sing together a refreshing song that evokes the arrival of spring? Created by Mr.
Komichi Hikari and Mr.
Shinichiro Sako, this piece features lyrics that make rhythmic hand-play fun.
The spring-themed lyrics spark children’s imaginations, and the bright melody naturally makes you want to hum along.
Since it incorporates clapping motions, it’s perfect for developing a sense of rhythm and teamwork.
Singing it at entrance ceremonies or spring events can help ease the nerves of children who are anxious about a new environment.
Be sure to sing it with your child and enjoy the coming of spring!
Cute Hide and SeekSakushi: Satou Hachirou／Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao
This is a gentle children’s song about a game of hide-and-seek played by adorable animals.
Hatchlings, sparrows, and puppies try their best to conceal themselves, warmly portrayed in the words of Hachirō Satō, with Yoshinao Nakada’s melody enhancing its charm even further.
First released in 1951, the piece has inspired children’s playfulness and curiosity toward animals.
The thrilling hide-and-seek unfolds in everyday scenes—gardens, rooftops, and meadows.
It’s perfect for singing with your child in fresh, green May, while thinking of the animals you might meet on a walk.
The rhythm of the lyrics and the friendly melody truly seem to express the joy of spring.
Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
This lively children’s song by Yoshiko Kayama and Akira Yuyama captures the excitement of setting off on a trip in a big bus.
Set to a rhythmic melody, it gently portrays children enjoying pretend play with vehicles.
It’s a song you can sing while moving your hands and body, so it naturally brings smiles to children’s faces.
Long cherished in childcare and educational settings, it’s also used as a play song.
With spring outing season approaching, why not sing it together as a family before a walk or a day out? If everyone enjoys it while keeping the beat, it will surely create wonderful memories in children’s hearts.
Friend Ponkurton
The song that brings a heart-thumping time with lively music was born in March 2016.
Featured on the soundtrack of the film “Shimajiro and the Book Kingdom,” it stands out for Naomi Minami’s bright voice and its rhythmic melody.
With themes of friendship and bonds with companions, it has a fun structure where the tempo gradually changes.
It’s included on the album “Shimajiro no Wow! The Movie: Shimajiro and the Book Kingdom + TV Version ‘Shimajiro no Wow! Original Soundtrack’,” and has been used in both the movie and the TV show.
It’s perfect for singing and dancing together at nursery and kindergarten parent-child events, and it’s a track that children who watch “Shimajiro no Wow!” will enjoy.
Gramps and Grannywarabeuta
Let’s introduce a perfect traditional children’s song for gentle playtime with your baby! This piece lets you softly touch and play with your baby’s face, so you can enjoy watching their expressions change together.
It’s included on the album “Mainichi Warabe-uta from 0 Years Old,” released by King Records in August 2022, featuring the warm vocals of Emiko Kobayashi.
It’s also used in the child-rearing support activities of “Hapimoto” in Hashimoto City, Wakayama Prefecture, and is loved by many parents.
Sit your child on your lap and sing while facing them gently.
By tuning in to your baby’s feelings and taking your time to connect through touch, you’ll create a fun, smile-filled time of communication.
What is your name?Indoneshia min’yō
This is a hand-play song rooted in a traditional Indonesian folk tune, widely beloved in early childhood education settings.
It helps children become familiar with their own names and those of their friends, fostering communication while they enjoy learning names.
The melody is bright and approachable, designed so children can sing along happily.
It is often sung at the start of activities or during morning gatherings and is used as a hand-play song in preschool environments.
The piece is included mainly in piano collections for educators, such as “Songs for Children: Easy Piano Accompaniment You Can Play—Perfect for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens.” Recommended for childcare settings, it has a warm atmosphere that eases anxiety in new environments and helps children build relationships with friends.
a cat’s child; a kittenSakushi / Sakkyoku: Deguchi Chikara
Blending a gentle, adorable rhythm with hand-play movements, this piece is perfect for interactive play with babies from 0 years old.
Its cat-themed, charming world broadens children’s imaginations.
Satoko Yamano’s clear, transparent vocals combined with Masashi Wakamatsu’s tender arrangement weave a heartwarming melody.
Included on the album “Columbia Kids: Parent and Child Nursery Songs—Enjoy the Rhythm and Words of Songs,” released in June 2018, it is also cherished in early childhood education settings.
By making eye contact with your child and moving hands and fingers together, the circle of communication naturally grows.
It’s recommended for morning meeting time, end-of-day gatherings, and family bonding time at home.