[Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
Hand-play songs that you can sing and play are hugely popular with children, aren’t they?
As times change, lots of new hand-play songs have appeared, and through these songs you can really feel children’s interests and curiosity.
Trendy songs are fun, but we also want to cherish the traditional warabe-uta that have been sung for generations.
Their melodies are warm, the back-and-forth of the words is amusing, and the fact that you can sing them without a piano is also very appealing.
This time, we’ll introduce plenty of hand-play songs that are favorites with kids!
From trending hits popular in childcare settings to traditional warabe-uta, we’ve got a full lineup of hand-play games that will bring smiles to children’s faces.
Be sure to join in and play along!
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- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
- Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song
- Useful for childcare! Today’s recommended recreational activities, including fingerplay and games!
- Popular hand games and hand game songs for toddlers and children! Full of ideas for childcare/early childhood education.
[Hand Play] Popular with Kids! Trendy Hand-Clapping Songs & Nostalgic Traditional Children’s Songs (71–80)
yomogi-jōbu nowarabeuta
“Yomogi Joubu-no” is a charming hand-play song where nature and play become one.
It depicts children holding sweet flag leaves and playfully patting each other’s bottoms, evoking traditional playfulness and the blessings of nature.
Within its simple lyrics are wishes for a bountiful harvest and a belief in the power of plants.
It’s perfect for the season when spring arrives or for playing outdoors in nature.
By singing it together with children and moving your bodies, you can build a deeper bond.
Why not spend a memorable time with this warm, traditional children’s song?
New Year’s mochi pounding
This is a two-person hand game song with a mochi-pounding theme.
One person keeps clapping continuously in a steady 4/4 beat, moving their hands up and down.
The other person matches the lyrics by aligning with the partner’s hands or moving through the gaps.
It’s fun and looks just like real mochi pounding.
While actual mochi pounding requires special tools, this lets you enjoy a New Year’s atmosphere easily.
Piglet-raccoon dog-fox-cat
The children’s song “Kobuta, Tanuki, Kitsune, Neko” sings animal names while playing shiritori (a word-chain game).
It was written and composed by Naosumi Yamamoto, who created many songs for children, as well as music for dramas and films, including “Ichinensei ni Nattara.” Because the song repeats the animal names that appear in the title, it’s easy to remember, and children who are just beginning to talk may be able to sing along by imitating it.
In the second verse, you mimic each animal’s call.
The quirky onomatopoeic words are likely to feel mysterious and amusing to children.
Try singing it while adding gestures that match each animal.
[Hand Games] Popular with kids! A collection of trending hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs (81–90)
Ton-ton Tunnel
The fingerplay song “Ton Ton Tunnel” is a hand game where you make a tunnel with your arms, and anything that passes through it transforms.
One finger is an ant, and when the ant goes through the tunnel, it turns into two fingers and becomes a crab.
When the two fingers go through, next it becomes three fingers for a cat’s whiskers, and so on—the number of fingers increases by one and what they represent changes each time.
Finally, five fingers become a ghost! When you turn your hand downward and make a ghost pose, the kids go wild with excitement!
Ogre’s Pants
“Oni no Pantsu” is a song about the very sturdy pants worn by ogres that never rip no matter how many years you wear them.
It’s sung to the cheerful melody of the Italian popular song “Funiculì, Funiculà.” The hand movements match the lyrics, showing the number of years to indicate how long they last, and bending the arms to make “muscle” poses to express how tough they are.
In short, let’s show off just how strong they are to the fullest! During Setsubun and other occasions, it can be fun to wear pants with the same pattern as the ones the ogres wear.
kata-don, hiji-don
“Katadon Hijidon” is a traditional children’s hand-play song.
You sing while touching your body from the shoulder to the elbow, wrist, and then each finger in order from the thumb to the little finger.
The names for each finger can be a bit tricky, but it’s very rhythmic and short, so it’s fun to play.
Start slowly at first, and once you get used to it, speed up little by little as you sing and play.
In conclusion
We introduced some popular hand-play songs—what did you think? There were also hand plays related to seasons, events, and everyday habits. Try incorporating different hand plays to suit the occasion! Hand-play songs are easy to learn and can be enjoyed anywhere, making them perfect for filling small pockets of time. It’s also fun to try singing them faster or changing your voice! Enjoy a wonderful time with your child.