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 for babies and toddlers. Popular hand-play songs in childcare (31–40).
Gonbe-san’s Baby
“Gonbe-san no Akachan” is recommended for toddlers.
It’s a play activity you do while moving your body to the song, and since there aren’t many types of movements, kids can probably learn it quickly and start playing right away.
It also looks fun to gradually speed up the song.
The Rag Song
The hand-play song “Zoukin no Uta” (The Cleaning Rag Song) is a recommended activity for babies.
The way to play is to sing while rubbing their tummy, gently poking their body, and enjoying skin-to-skin contact.
Babies are delighted when you touch their bodies.
Holding their feet and gently rocking them also makes for good exercise, so it’s a great hand-play song, don’t you think?
Pop goes the egg.
The hand play song “Tamago wo Pon” is a recommended activity for babies.
It’s a game where you hold the baby’s hands and move them as if doing exercises to the rhythm of the song.
Because it involves touch and communication, babies will likely enjoy it.
Give it a try!
From inside the cabbage
The hand-play song “From Inside the Cabbage” is more suited for toddlers who have grown a bit, rather than infants.
It’s a game where you use both hands to the rhythm of the song, pretending your hands are a cabbage.
Everyone can have fun imagining together what might sprout up from inside the cabbage, as it pokes out one after another.
Tick-tock Clock
A recommended fingerplay song for babies is “Tick-Tock, Little Clock.” You can poke your baby gently with your index finger in time with the song, rotate their arms in a circle, and more—it’s a fingerplay that helps you communicate with your baby.
Give it a try!
Hand play activities for babies and toddlers. Popular hand-play songs in childcare (41–50)
French bread
The hand-play song “French Bread” is a recommended activity for babies.
As you sing along, gently squeeze-massage the baby’s arms and tickle their body while you play.
When you tickle their body, smiles naturally appear, so be sure to give it a try.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
The hand-play song “If You’re Happy and You Know It” is more suited for toddlers who’ve grown a bit, rather than for infants.
It’s a game where everyone sings together and uses their hands and feet to make sounds in time with the music.
Since lots of children can do it together, please give it a try!