[Children’s Day Hand-Play Songs] A Collection of Nursery Rhymes & Traditional Children’s Songs for Parents and Kids to Enjoy Together

skylark skylark

Spring nursery rhyme [Hibari Hibari] Parent-child play [Childcare]

In the pleasantly breezy month of May, here’s a nursery rhyme game with a springtime bird theme that we hope parents and children will enjoy at a relaxed pace.

It’s characterized by short, repeated phrases that call to the birds and depict traveling over mountains and through valleys.

You can rock your child on your lap, use your fingertips to represent hills and valleys—there’s no single right way to play! Though it’s a traditional song passed down in local communities since long ago, new audio recordings with fresh ways of singing were released as recently as March 2021, and it continues to be loved today in various forms, especially in early childhood settings.

Precisely because there’s no fixed answer, you can tailor it to your child’s age and the atmosphere of the moment—that’s the charm of this piece.

On a warm, sunny day, why not find your own original way to play together with your child?

Squeeze, squeeze, kashiwa mochi.Sakushi: Sakura Tomoko / Sakkyoku: Ozawa Tatsuyuki

A nursery classic to sing: “Kashiwa Mochi Gyuggyu” [Children’s Day, nursery music play, hand-play song]

An adorable children’s song that rhythmically depicts the fun of making kashiwa-mochi.

Its structure lets kids sing while doing hand-play motions, which naturally draws out their body movements and helps develop a sense of rhythm.

Featured in numerous early childhood education books—such as “Instant Hand-Play & Piano Accompaniment for Ages 0–2”—the song is widely used in kindergartens and nurseries.

Try singing it at home with your child while enjoying the hand-play.

And after the fun, how about some real kashiwa-mochi for a snack?

cherry

[Fingerplay Song] Active Nursery Teacher Demonstrates “Sakuranbon”! [With Singing and Movements]

Sakuranbon is a hand-play song themed around cherries, which are in season from May to July.

You use your hands and arms to represent cherries and keep the rhythm by swinging your arms widely from side to side.

The cherry fruits are shown with clenched fists! You can stack your clenched hands under your chin to look like a beard, place them on top of your head to imitate a bear, or stretch your arms straight out in front to show driving a car—there are lots of different poses included.

Of course, you can freely change the poses made with your clenched hands! What unique poses will the children come up with?

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yuri

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A-I-U-E-O nigiriSakushi Sakkyoku: Shuu Saeko

♪ A-I-U-E-O Onigiri — Let's have onigiri together from the morning ♪ [with choreography]

A bright, rhythmic tune themed around the joy and smiles of making rice balls as a family.

With lyrics that spark curiosity and imagination about everyday ingredients, it captivates children’s hearts.

First broadcast on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” in April 2001, the song has been covered by many artists, including Satoko Yamano and the Himawari Kids.

It’s used in nursery schools and kindergartens as part of food education, and it’s also recommended to hum along at home while making onigiri with your child.

A caterpillar

[Fingerplay Song] An Active Nursery Teacher Demonstrates “One Little Caterpillar”! [With Singing and Motions]

May is also the season when fresh green leaves are beautiful.

Many children probably get absorbed in observing insects in parks and nature, don’t they? “One Little Caterpillar” is an adorable song that depicts a caterpillar dancing and hopping with friends, then getting tired and falling asleep! You can enjoy a fingerplay by wiggling your raised finger like a caterpillar.

Numbers appear in the lyrics, making it perfect for practicing counting! For indoor play, singing while looking at picture books or field guides may make it easier to imagine.

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yuri

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Get on the busSakushi sakkyoku: Taniguchi Kunihiro

[With Choreography] Riding the Bus / Okaasan to Issho | Working Vehicles Animation | Daisuke Yokoyama, Takumi Mitani

Kunihiro Taniguchi’s rhythmic children’s song is brimming with charm, inviting listeners to vividly imagine the fun of riding in vehicles.

Set to a gently swaying melody, it’s a piece that lets you express with your whole body the bus’s rocking motion and the thrill of turning.

Released in May 2008 and later included in the September 2020 album “Teacher Ti’s Kids Love It! Play Songs,” the track has also been featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” and is frequently sung at nursery school and kindergarten events.

As a hand-play song that children can enjoy together, it’s a perfect choice for family bonding time and making memories.

Carp streamer hand play song

[Children's Day] Fun as a game too! Koinobori hand play

These are hand-play songs themed around koinobori, the carp streamers displayed on May 5 for Children’s Day (Tango no Sekku).

The first game imagines the carp streamer opening its big mouth; kids move their hands while guessing what it “swallowed.” Try incorporating all sorts of things—animals, vehicles, and more.

The second is a unique game that playfully combines Tango no Sekku with the dance tango.

While expressing kashiwa mochi, samurai helmets, and koinobori with your hands, keep a lively tempo as you play.

Just thinking, “What’s the next move?” is exciting—give these Children’s Day–special hand-play activities a try!

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mutō

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