[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)
lazyboneswarabe uta
The children’s song handed down in Saga Prefecture has horsetail shoots as its theme, heralding the arrival of spring.
The lyrics call out to the sprouts as they peek up from the soil.
There are many ways to enjoy it—swaying together as parent and child or playing with a cloth, for example.
Reflecting the local culture, it is a cherished tradition passed down across generations.
It also seems to encourage interaction with springtime nature and promote rhythm and language development.
Widely enjoyed by various ages in nursery schools and kindergartens, it is a lovely song that expresses hopes for children’s healthy growth.
Churippu sharippuwarabe uta
Simple yet profound, this nursery rhyme captivates children’s hearts.
The part where everyone stands in a circle and calls each other’s names is perfect for nurturing communication skills and social development.
Its rhythmic lyrics and melody are fun and easy to memorize.
In preschools and kindergartens, it’s also used as an icebreaker to ease the nerves of new children.
At home, singing and playing it together as a family can make for a delightful time.
It can be enjoyed from infancy.
When the spring weather invites you outdoors, why not form a circle and sing it together?
Vegetable SongYamano Satoko
Welcome to the wonderful world of vegetables! This song, hugely popular with children, is full of clever ways to help them learn the names of vegetables in a fun, rhythmic way.
With sounds that express the names and characteristics of veggies like tomatoes and cabbage, just listening will fill you with excitement.
Accompanied by Satoko Yamano’s bright and gentle voice, the vegetables make their appearances one after another.
This piece is included in many children’s music albums.
It’s also recommended for nutrition education time or for singing together with kids who aren’t fond of vegetables.
If you sing while moving your body, it becomes even more fun!
Horn, horn, hoooorn!Suzuki Tsubasa・Fukuda Sho
A singing game that excites children’s “I wonder what it is?” mood: “Tsuno Tsuno Tsū-no.” The choreography—swaying the ‘horns’ you make with your index fingers to a relaxed rhythm—is super cute, isn’t it? The unique lyrics that make kids think, “What will come next?” are fun and spark their curiosity, and they also seem to help them develop the ability to listen attentively.
A rapid parade of many animals appears, so children who love animals will be thrilled.
Be sure to belt out the final “None!” with lots of energy and have fun!
Let’s brush our teeth.
After eating meals or snacks, we need to brush our teeth with a toothbrush! But there are probably many kids who don’t like brushing their teeth.
This hand play song, “Let’s Brush Our Teeth,” helps even those children enjoy brushing.
You sing while making tooth-brushing motions to match the lyrics.
After the hand play, try it with a real toothbrush! The second verse is about rinsing, so when you come home from outside or before meals, listen to this song and make sure to rinse properly too!
Ehomaki, yum!gaagaaS
“Ehomaki Amu” is a fun hand-play song perfect for Setsubun.
With playful lyrics that, for example, mimic the sound of eating ehomaki, it really sparks children’s imaginations.
Because the actions involve repeatedly eating the ehomaki while facing a specific direction, kids can enjoy themselves while also developing a sense of direction.
If preschool or kindergarten teachers use it for Setsubun events, it’s sure to get everyone excited! At home, singing it together with a parent or guardian will make for a delightful Setsubun memory.
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.
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!
one bamboo shootwarabe uta
Perfect for the spring season, this song is a traditional children’s rhyme that has been loved for generations.
It features simple lyrics and a catchy melody, and its charm lies in the way children split into “oni” (tagger) and “takenoko” (bamboo shoot) roles to play.
Because kids move their bodies while singing, it’s great for developing a sense of rhythm and cooperation.
It’s also used in early childhood education, and there are videos on YouTube explaining how to play.
Sing and play energetically outdoors with family and friends, and you’re sure to enjoy the spring atmosphere even more.
Why not raise your voices together and feel the arrival of spring?