Lovely childcare

[For 1-year-olds] Fun Together! Recommended Songs and Hand Play Collection

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

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!

[For 1-year-olds] Enjoy Together! Recommended Songs and Hand Play Collection (41–50)

Song of a little birdSakushi: Yoda Jun’ichi / Sakkyoku: Akutagawa Yasushi

Kotori no Uta [Children’s Song] Lyrics: Junichi Yoda / Music: Yasushi Akutagawa / With choreography / With lyrics /

Song of a little birdSakushi: Yoda Jun'ichi / Sakkyoku: Akutagawa Yasushi

This piece, which gently captures the chirping of little birds, warmly embraces the hearts of young children.

Jun’ichi Yoda’s lyrics and Yasushi Akutagawa’s music blend beautifully to bring to life the image of small birds living in nature.

The onomatopoeic words in the lyrics spark children’s imaginations and make singing delightful.

Since its debut in 1954, this song has remained beloved in kindergartens and nursery schools, making it perfect for entrance ceremonies.

It helps ease the anxiety of children facing a new environment and is sure to turn their nerves into smiles through song.

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In conclusion

We introduced some recommended songs for one-year-olds. There were also songs featuring animals, flowers, and insects that children love. Singing while looking at photos or picture books can help deepen their interest. Since one-year-olds vary widely in their physical and language development, try using big, clear actions and adding expression to your singing so each child can engage and enjoy in their own way. Incorporate plenty of songs and hand-play games into daily life, and have fun singing together.