[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!
- Get excited! A list of popular and fun hand games that captivate children
- Kids go wild! Popular hand games and fun sing-alongs
- [Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
- Japanese counting songs: nostalgic temari (handball) songs and children’s folk songs
- [For 1-year-olds] Fun Together! Recommended Songs and Hand Play Collection
- Baby massage song. A touch-and-play song that parents and children can enjoy together.
- December children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: fun winter hand-play songs
- Nursery rhymes to sing to your baby! Recommended songs enjoyable from 0 months
- [Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.
- [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 Games] Popular with Kids! Trendy Hand-Play Songs & Nostalgic Traditional Children’s Songs (1–10)
Full Moon Night’s Mochi Pounding
In “Jugo-ya-san no Mochitsuki,” two players face each other: one pounds the mochi and the other kneads it.
The person pounding keeps a steady rhythm with hand claps, while the person kneading slips their hands in during the intervals between the claps.
This song is adapted in various ways depending on the season when mochi is made.
For example, for Hinamatsuri it becomes “Mochitsuki on March 3rd,” and for New Year’s it’s “New Year’s Mochitsuki.”
Zuizui Zukkorobashi
Many hand-play songs are for two people, but Zuizui Zukkorobashi is a hand-play song that can be played by two or more.
This song describes presenting tea to a shogun in the Edo period.
One person extends their index finger, while the others make tube shapes with both hands.
The finger is inserted into each “tube” in turn, and when the song ends, the hand that has the finger in it is pulled away.
The person who can pull away the fastest wins.
Are you okay? Whoops.Sakushi sakkyoku: Suzuki Tsubasa
Tsubasa Suzuki’s finger-play songs are full of charm that brings smiles to children’s faces.
With surreal elements that include animals stumbling and falling, they turn into irresistibly funny tunes.
The rhythmic lyrics and cute choreography make it easy for kids to move their bodies and have fun.
This track is available on CD and via digital distribution, and is included on the album “Inai Inai Wao!” It’s also highly recommended for nursery and kindergarten teachers.
Sing and dance together with the children, and you’re sure to have a wonderful time!
[Hand Play] Popular with kids! Trendy hand play songs & nostalgic traditional children's songs collection (11–20)
Inside-out pots!
It’s a children’s song played while holding hands.
In time with the song, you do a half turn without letting go, ending up back-to-back.
Then, again to the song, you return to the original position.
It works well with a large group, too.
The melody is very similar to “Kagome Kagome.” It’s said that “Kagome Kagome” and “Nabe Nabe Soko Nuke” may have been created from the same original song.
One person, two people
This is a nursery rhyme that delights babies.
While singing “ichiri, niri, sanri,” you gently grasp and jiggle in order: the ankles, the knees, and the tops of the legs (hip joints).
Then, after a brief pause, you tickle them while saying “shiri shiri shiri~!!” Kids remember it after just one try, so if you vary the way you say the final “shiri,” they enjoy it even more.
You can also adapt it by jiggling the hands as well as the feet.
Tokyo-to Nihonbashi
This is a nursery rhyme where you change the shape and movements of your hands to match the lyrics.
Because you can play while directly touching the other person’s hands, they might enjoy it even more than just singing.
At the end of the song, tickle them a lot and make them laugh! It’s great for parents and children, and it would be fun to try with friends, too.
It’s also fine for little ones who don’t understand words yet.
Department store with the penguin logo
How about a fun fingerplay song for kids featuring a penguin-brand department store? In this song, you go floor by floor through the store, with different shops making an appearance, making it a delightful experience.
Children act out the lyrics with hand movements and gestures, which nurtures their imagination and physical expression.
They’ll be excited each time to see which shop comes next.
It’s popular with middle and older kindergarten classes, and combining it with a sketchbook theater or panel theater makes it even more enjoyable!