Hand games toddlers and infants can do. Popular hand play songs in childcare
Here’s an introduction to recommended finger-play songs for babies and toddlers.
Finger-play songs are a popular way to communicate with babies who can’t speak yet and a favorite play activity for toddlers.
Once you start a finger-play song, kids get super interested—many will try to imitate you!
Beyond building a sense of rhythm, finger-play songs also help develop the body by encouraging children to move their hands and fingers as they intend.
They’re almost always incorporated in childcare settings.
We’ve gathered finger-play songs that are popular with toddlers, as well as ones that babies can enjoy just by listening, so be sure to give them a try!
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Hand games toddlers and babies can do. Popular hand game songs in childcare (11–20)
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is often sung as a lullaby.
The version sung around the world today is based on a French chanson, with new lyrics written by an English poet.
We recommend enjoying this song by moving a baby’s hands and feet, like a gentle baby massage.
In time with the rhythm, softly bring hand to hand, foot to foot, or hand to foot.
Although the song’s lyrics talk about the twinkling stars, it’s also fun to adapt the words so that it’s the baby’s moving hands and feet that are shining.
After moving their body, this song also makes a lovely lullaby for a nap.
What shall we make with rock, paper, scissors?
“What Can We Make with Rock, Scissors, Paper?” is a classic hand-play song.
Using the rock, scissors, and paper shapes from rock-paper-scissors, you create different things that appear.
For example, make a rock with one hand and scissors with the other, and place the rock on top of the scissors to make a snail appear! There are a few standard creations, but it’s also fun to add your own variations.
Try using rock, scissors, and paper to make lots of things that will delight babies!
mixed juice
Its title says it all: “Mixed Juice,” a song about making a delicious juice filled with lots of fruits.
In this mixed juice, we add apples and grapes, strawberries and cherries.
And believe it or not, each fruit is hidden inside a face! Let’s find the fruits hidden in the face and put them into the blender.
Once they’re in, mix the fruits in the blender! When the tasty mixed juice is ready, please give it as a gift.
It might also be fun to try finding different fruits in the face and adding those, too.
Crocodile family
Featuring a family of five crocodiles—Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Big Sister, and Baby—this song is aptly titled “The Crocodile Family.” Each crocodile’s traits and movements are acted out with hand motions to match the lyrics.
At first, all the crocodiles use big arm movements to show mouths opening and closing.
Only for the baby crocodile, since its mouth is small, it’s fine to use just your fingers or the palm of your hand.
After that, use your hands to portray each family member’s characteristic actions, like moving their eyes or putting on makeup.
Crocodiles might seem a bit scary, but a cute family like this isn’t scary at all!
Tickle on the narrow bridge
Ippon-bashi Kochokocho is a playful game where you trace and tickle a baby’s arm.
You mirror the actions described in the song’s lyrics.
First, trace from the baby’s elbow to their palm with one finger, then gently tickle their palm.
Next, following the lyrics, stroke, pat, and pinch the hand—being careful to do everything gently.
After that, like climbing stairs one step at a time, move two fingers from the baby’s palm up toward their shoulder.
Finally, tickle their whole body.
Since all the actions feel pleasantly ticklish, your baby is sure to enjoy it!
Yakiimo goo-choki-pa
Yakiimo Goo-Choki-Paa is a hand-play song starring roasted sweet potatoes that you’ll want to eat in the cold season.
As the title suggests, the hand motions include rock, scissors, and paper to match the lyrics.
In the other parts, you use big hand movements to show the sweet potato itself and the way you eat it.
At the end of the song, you finish with a round of rock-paper-scissors.
The rock, scissors, and paper that appear during the song lead into the final game.
Babies who can’t play rock-paper-scissors yet can enjoy it without that part, of course! Just singing it might make you hungry.
Hand games that babies and toddlers can do. Popular hand-play songs in childcare (21–30)
This is Dad’s territory.
The hand-play song “Koko wa tōchan nindo-koro” is a great game for babies.
It’s a play activity we really hope you’ll enjoy with your baby while singing together with Mom and Dad.
As you sing about the ways the baby resembles the two of you and touch your baby with gentle skin-to-skin contact, they’ll be delighted.