[Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
For children, hand-play songs where they sing and interact with familiar adults and friends are so much fun.
Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes are said to have a very positive effect on children’s brain and emotional development.
It’s something we’d love to incorporate a lot into everyday life.
So this time, we’re introducing hand-play songs and nursery rhymes that parents and children can enjoy together.
From classic tunes everyone has heard to popular songs sung in daycare centers and kindergartens, there’s a lot to choose from!
Please try to find songs you can enjoy together that match your children’s age and interests.
Many of these songs have a good tempo and catchy melodies or phrases, so they’re easy to learn right away!
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[Parenting] Parent-Child Bonding! Hand-Play Songs and Traditional Nursery Rhymes (71–80)
Rolling EggsSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Fushou
The action song “Korokoro Tamago,” which repeats the same motions, is also recommended.
It depicts an egg rolling, a chick that hatches and walks, and then a grown chicken crowing.
You show the egg by making a fist and rotating your arms, the chick by moving your index finger up and down, and the chicken by flapping your hands.
All the movements are simple, so even infants can enjoy playing along.
It’s also appealing that children can have fun making big, whole-body movements.
Head, Shoulders, Knees—pon!Sakushi: Fushō / Sakkyoku: Igirisu minyō
Have fun touching your own body with “Head, Shoulders, Knees—Clap!” It’s sung to the melody of the English nursery rhyme “London Bridge Is Falling Down.” As you sing, touch the body parts mentioned in the lyrics—touch your head for “head,” and you can point to your eyes or nose, for example.
After touching your knees, clap once.
First, show your child the gestures, then have them imitate you, or gently guide their hands and move together.
It’s also a great opportunity for them to learn the names of their body parts and discover where each one is.
Knock knock knock knock, Grandpa with a beardSakushi: Fushō / Sakkyoku: Tamayama Hidenobu
A nursery rhyme you can enjoy with hand play: “Ton ton ton ton Hige Jiisan” (Knock, knock, knock, knock, Grandpa with a Beard).
You sing while using both hands to represent the characters in the lyrics.
If you place your clenched fists at your chin, you’re a grandpa with a beard; if you place your clenched fists on your cheeks, you’re the grandpa with distinctive bumps.
In this way, do the hand motions as you sing.
Seeing different people appear using just your hands will make your child curious and think, “What’s that?” Because the movements aren’t complicated, it’s an easy hand-play song even for one-year-olds to try.
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.
Gonbe-san’s BabySakushi: Tashiga Akira / Sakkyoku: Amerika min’yō
Gonbe-san’s Baby was created based on an American folk song.
It’s a song featuring a character named Gonbe-san—who covers his head with a tenugui and ties it under his chin—and a baby.
It depicts a scene where the baby catches a cold, and you use your hands to show actions like holding the baby and having a bright idea.
You can enjoy a unique move where, in a fluster, you end up putting a cold compress on yourself by mistake.
Once you’re used to it, try picking up the tempo.
Give this hand play a try and make the most of this familiar melody that everyone has heard at least once.
Let’s clap our handsSakushi: Kobayashi Jun’ichi / Sakkyoku: Chekosurobakia min’yō
“Te o Tatakimashou” (“Let’s Clap Our Hands”) is a song where children can enjoy a variety of movements and expressions in time with the lyrics.
Because it includes expressions of emotions like laughing and getting angry, it helps draw out many different faces and feelings from the children.
If the teacher really goes all-in and performs a bit exaggeratedly, the kids will likely join in freely as well.
Seeing their cute faces working so hard to express themselves is sure to be heartwarming.
Since it uses the whole body, incorporating it before a main activity—such as during a morning meeting—should be a fun way to get everyone loosened up.
Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
This lively children’s song by Yoshiko Kayama and Akira Yuyama captures the excitement of setting off on a trip in a big bus.
Set to a rhythmic melody, it gently portrays children enjoying pretend play with vehicles.
It’s a song you can sing while moving your hands and body, so it naturally brings smiles to children’s faces.
Long cherished in childcare and educational settings, it’s also used as a play song.
With spring outing season approaching, why not sing it together as a family before a walk or a day out? If everyone enjoys it while keeping the beat, it will surely create wonderful memories in children’s hearts.