[Children’s Day Hand-Play Songs] A Collection of Nursery Rhymes & Traditional Children’s Songs for Parents and Kids to Enjoy Together
May 5th is Tango no Sekku—Children’s Day, a holiday celebrating children’s healthy growth! Many families decorate with carp streamers and samurai dolls and enjoy a festive meal.
In this article, we’ve gathered some recommended hand-play songs perfect for Children’s Day.
How about trying them with your family after the celebration? These are all ideal for kids in nursery school and kindergarten, so have fun adding Children’s Day–themed twists as you play!
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[Children’s Day Hand Play Songs] A Collection of Nursery Rhymes & Traditional Children’s Songs for Parents and Kids to Enjoy (61–70)
To the Sun in the Palm of Your HandSakushi: Yanase Takashi / Sakkyoku: Izumi Taku
A wonderful song in which Takashi Yanase’s gentle lyrics and Taku Izumi’s bright melody blend beautifully, teaching us that earthworms, dragonflies, and frogs are our precious friends too.
Created in 1961 and broadcast the following year on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” it quickly captured the hearts of many.
It has since been covered by numerous artists, including Dark Ducks and BON-BON BLANCO, and featured in the film “Chiisana Jumbo” and the TV anime “Sore Ike! Anpanman.” Cherished across generations, from children to adults, this work is also perfect as a hand-play song for families to enjoy together.
Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba
A song that paints a large ship in the blue sky and sings of an adventure to a new world is full of charm that richly nurtures children’s imaginations.
Along with energetic calls and cheers, its uplifting message that expands their hopes for dreams will surely resonate deeply in children’s hearts.
Beloved in kindergartens and nursery schools, this work shines in scenes where children sing together, such as at sports days and concerts.
Its structure, which lets children move their bodies joyfully while singing, is also a major appeal that enables everyone to have fun as one.
It is a cherished piece in childcare and educational settings.
Song of a little birdsakushi: Yoda Jun’ichi / sakkyoku: Akutagawa Yasushi
This charming children’s song features a bright, light melody and adorable onomatopoeia that evokes birds chirping.
Depicting a little bird gently calling for its mother and father, it was released in 1954, and its tender lyrics expressing love for parents have warmed hearts across generations.
Many people likely sang it in nursery school or kindergarten when they were young.
In educational settings, it is often sung during May’s Bird Week.
It’s a perfect song for families to enjoy together with hand-play actions.
Bamboo Shoot ExercisesSakushi: Nakazawa Yoshihiro / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
Featured on numerous releases, including Nippon Columbia’s album “The Best: Kids Exercise Songs,” this piece is a bright, rhythmic track themed around the growth of bamboo shoots.
Since its release in April 2006, it has remained a favorite at sports days and in early childhood activities.
The composition is by Nobuyoshi Koshube, who worked on music for NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” for 40 years, with lyrics by Yoshihiro Nakazawa.
With a comfortable tempo and easy-to-enjoy choreography, it’s perfect not only for exercise time in kindergartens and nursery schools, but also for families to enjoy moving together at home.
a big drumSakushi: Kobayashi Junichi / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao
This is a hand play song you can enjoy with rhythmic choreography that mimics drumming.
Created by Junichi Kobayashi and Yoshinao Nakata in January 1955 for NHK Radio’s preschool program “Rhythm Play,” it features an appealing, easy-to-follow melody that expresses the sounds of a big drum and a small drum.
There are also cover versions by Shoko Haida and characters from “Inai Inai Baa!,” and it’s loved across generations.
The structure alternates between the sounds of the big drum and the small drum, packed with ideas that help children naturally grow familiar with music through hand play.
If you sing it while making drumming motions, you’re sure to have a great time.