December children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: fun winter hand-play songs
When it comes to December, it’s the season that makes you excited and a little restless, with Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and preparations for the New Year.
Especially as kids, there was so much to look forward to—not just Christmas, but winter break and playing in the snow when it fell.
In this article, we’ll introduce children’s songs perfect for this wonderful month of December, along with playful songs everyone can enjoy and traditional nursery rhymes that have long been popular.
Most of these are for children, but there are also moving masterpieces that resonate deeply with adults.
Try listening while feeling the crisp air outside, or while staying cozy and warm indoors.
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
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- [For Seniors] Beloved songs to sing in December: heartwarming moments with nostalgic kayōkyoku and children’s songs
- [Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
- [For people in their 90s] Recommended Christmas songs: from nostalgic school songs and hymns to timeless classics
- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
- Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with
- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
- [Christmas Songs] Christmas songs to sing with children
- Recommended Christmas songs for people in their 70s: A collection of classic winter hits from the Showa era
- [For Seniors] Winter songs you'll want to hum along to. A collection of classic tunes recommended for BGM and recreational activities
- Songs we want children to listen to! Recommended Christmas songs and nursery rhymes
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
December children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: Fun winter hand-play songs (1–10)
fluffy snowNEW!teasobi
Here’s a unique hand-play song that’s perfect for the winter season, letting you enjoy the chill of snow and delicious food all at once! “Fluffy Fluffy Snow” is a tune where you gather the snow falling from the sky and, keeping the rhythm, make an adorable snowman.
The playful lyrics, which imagine parts like the eyes and mouth as mandarins and strawberries, spark children’s imaginations.
Released in May 2019 as a hand-play activity recipe, the song spread through word of mouth in childcare settings and via videos, and has become widely used as an introduction to winter craft activities.
If you turn it into a panel theater activity, you can have fun creating all kinds of expressions with the children, and it also helps them learn the names of vegetables and fruits! How about keeping warm indoors during the cold season while everyone sings and plays together?
Cha-cha-cha of the SnowmanSakushi Sakkyoku: Tashiga Akira
“Yukidaruma no Cha Cha Cha” is a popular song often sung in preschools and a winter children’s song that comes with fun hand motions.
Since it’s snowing, you make a snowman—and amazingly, the snowman starts to dance! It’s a tune that makes you feel great when you dance together with friends and family.
When it snows, try singing this song while building a snowman.
The hand-motion choreography is simple, so even little kids can copy it.
Listening to this song might spark interest—“What’s a snowman?”—and get children excited about winter.
Abuku-tattawarabeuta
This is a traditional children’s song perfect for the winter season.
Children form a circle to sing and enjoy the accompanying movements, and it is cherished as a playful singing game.
It consists of three parts—cooking, getting ready for bed, and the appearance of a ghost—and features imaginative lyrics and actions.
It also has educational aspects that foster cooperation and creativity, making it beloved across generations.
This piece is ideal for families and friends to enjoy together and is recommended for indoor play on cold winter days.
It is also often incorporated into group activities at preschools and kindergartens, making it a fun song-and-dance that supports children’s development.
December Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: Fun Winter Hand-Play Songs (11–20)
Santa Claus the ScatterbrainSakushi: Yoshioka Osamu / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Asei
The multi-talented Asei Kobayashi composed the Christmas song “Awatembō no Santa Claus” (The Hasty Santa Claus).
It’s a cute song featuring a scatterbrained Santa, and it was even sung on NHK’s children’s program “Okaasan to Issho.” Santa comes before Christmas, tries to go down the chimney to deliver presents, and ends up falling in.
It’s a situation where most would feel discouraged, but this Santa’s charm is that he doesn’t forget to enjoy himself even then.
I hope the children who listen to this song will grow up to be as resilient and cheerful as Santa.
The department store with the penguin logoSakushi / Sakkyoku: Inukai Seiji
Seiji Inukai’s work is drawing attention as a fun hand-play song perfect for the winter season.
The piece features a penguin as the protagonist who tours the different floors of a department store, a storyline that sparks children’s imagination.
Its simple, easy-to-remember melody and rhythmic lyrics are particularly appealing.
It’s widely loved in nurseries and kindergartens and is also used as teaching material, such as in sketchbook theater.
Designed to suit various stages of child development, it’s recommended for a wide age range from 1 to 5 years old.
Sing it with family and friends, and it’s sure to chase away the winter chill!
Ticotin, the Winter FairyTsubasa Suzuki · Kazuto Ozawa
A song brimming with the spirit of winter has been born.
Created by Tsubasa Suzuki and Kazuto Ozawa, it features lyrics depicting a fairy casting a spell and fun choreography that children can enjoy.
Included on the CD “Ai wo Gyugyutto!” released in May 2022, it has become widely beloved in early childhood education settings.
As a play song that incorporates tickling and friendly interaction, it’s perfect for strengthening bonds between parents and children, as well as between caregivers and kids.
Why not sing and play along during winter events or joyful moments with family?
Kantarō the North Wind KidSakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako
This winter song vividly conveys a chilly, cold atmosphere, from the whistling flute in the intro to the “whooo” sound that evokes the north wind.
By portraying the north wind not just as wind but as a character named Kantarō, it even makes that unpleasant north wind feel a bit charming.
When the north wind goes whooo, remember this song and Kantarō!
