[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 Games] Popular with Kids! Trendy Hand-Play Songs & Nostalgic Traditional Children's Songs Collection (21–30)
Story FingerSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
This is a heartwarming children’s song that you can enjoy while doing hand play.
By imagining your fingers as cute family members, it unfolds like a conversation between characters, so it’s great fun to sing while moving your fingers together with your child! Created by Yoshiko Kayama and Akira Yuyama, the piece was first introduced in February 1962 on the NHK radio program “Toddler Time,” and has been included on many classic recordings, such as the album “Children’s Songs by Age (2) Ages 1–2.” Its simple lyrics and melody are charming and perfect for parent-child bonding.
Widely loved as a staple hand-play song that’s hugely popular in kindergartens and nursery schools, it has also been featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho.” The bright, cheerful melody makes it easy to sing and is sure to bring a smile to your child’s face.
Mickey Mouse March
This is a hand-play song that uses the theme song loved by children all over the world, “Mickey Mouse March.” Set to the melody of “Mickey Mouse March,” various Disney characters appear based on numbers from 1 to 5 made with your fingers.
Using both hands to make shapes like 1 or 2, you represent distinctive features of characters such as Pinocchio and Dumbo.
And of course, Mickey makes an appearance at the end! Through the song, become friends with many Disney characters.
[Hand Play] Popular with Kids! Trendy Hand-Play Songs & Nostalgic Traditional Nursery Rhymes (31–40)
What shall we make with rock, scissors, paper?
Using the rock-paper-scissors hand shapes—rock, scissors, and paper—you can create all kinds of things with both hands.
It’s called “What Can We Make with Rock, Scissors, Paper?” Make one of the shapes—rock, scissors, or paper—with your right hand and another with your left.
Then combine the two shapes to make something appear.
For example, if you make a rock with one hand and a paper with the other, and place the paper on top of the rock, you get a helicopter! There are many other things you can make, so try thinking of your own originals beyond the ones mentioned in the song.
Crocodile family
A beloved, heartwarming piece is “The Crocodile Family.” It’s a hand-play song about the daily life of a crocodile family.
With lots of comical expressions, it’s something you can enjoy together in a lively way.
Plus, the choreography uses the whole upper body, so it doubles as light exercise.
When you portray the adult crocodile, use your whole arm as the jaw.
For the baby crocodile, use just your fingers.
It also includes swimming motions, which might spark kids’ interest in the pool.
Where are you from?
The handball song “Antagata Dokosa” is well known.
Its official title is said to be “Higo Temari Uta.” The lyrics are a bit shocking, telling of a hunter who shoots and eats a raccoon dog in the mountains.
As a handball song, it’s famous for the move where, whenever the syllable “sa” appears in the lyrics, you pass the ball under your foot while bouncing it.
There are many other ways to play with this song as well, such as pairing up like in “Alps Ichiman-jaku” to clap hands together, or jumping within a square ring to the rhythm and stepping forward on the “sa.” Beyond hand plays, feel free to enjoy it in whatever style you like.
The Bento Box Song
Even people who don’t know many fingerplay songs probably know this one, right? It’s the very famous “Obentōbako no Uta” (The Lunchbox Song).
Fingerplay songs that feature foods and animals are very popular with little children who can’t speak well yet.
It would also be a hit to make a parody version by adding your child’s favorite side dishes and ingredients!
chacha jar
This is a hand-play song themed on “Chacha-tsubo,” a nursery rhyme beloved in daycare centers and kindergartens.
You make poses with a fist and an open hand, then alternately open your hands and stack them.
The unique lyrics—“Since the tea jar has no lid, let’s take the bottom off and use it as a lid!”—are amusing, too.
Once you get used to it, try speeding it up or moving your hands while singing.
It’s easy and fun, takes about 30 seconds to play, and is very approachable for children.
It also helps develop fine motor skills and deepens communication among kids, so give this hand-play a try!
