[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 (1–10)
spool (of thread); winding thread; Itomaki (traditional toy spinning top), depending on contextSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Komori Akihiro
You probably all know the classic children’s hand-play song “Ito Maki.” It’s a song and hand game that even little kids can enjoy.
It’s an old-fashioned game that expresses the winding motion of thread with a fun song and gestures.
Of course, you can try the standard lyrics and movements, but it’s also fun to play around by deliberately repeating parts of the lyrics several times or, conversely, leaving some out.
Enjoy connecting with your children and friends in all kinds of ways!
Mr. Raccoon Dog of Genkotsu MountainSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Komori Akihiro
Let’s enjoy a classic children’s song-and-game with family and friends.
“Genkotsuyama no Tanuki-san” is a traditional nursery rhyme that many of us heard and sang at least once in childhood.
Try singing and dancing along to this long-loved, standard hand-play song with your child.
The lyrics and gestures follow the story of the nursery rhyme and are easy for even small children to understand.
It’s a delightful imitation game passed down through the ages.
Why not play together while spending quality, hands-on time as a family?
all over each other; stuck together; clingyKeroponzu
Hittsuki Mottsuki is a song performed by Keropons, a music duo that delivers songs and exercises for children.
The song’s theme is a word from the Hiroshima dialect that means sticking together and not coming apart.
A bright melody rings out over a lively ukulele accompaniment.
Starting with choreography where you spread your fingers wide and move your hands side to side, you can enjoy a unique movement where your heads end up stuck together.
The trick is to really show the expression of being stuck! Why not try sticking not only your heads but also your hands, backs, and other parts of the body and play together?
[Parenting] Bond with your child! A collection of hand-play songs and traditional children's rhymes (11–20)
five melon breadsSakushi: Nakagawa Hirotaka / Sakkyoku: Igirisu Min’yō
Derived from an English nursery rhyme, the hand play “Five Melon Breads” captivates children with its regular rhythm and fun actions.
By repeatedly using phrases that count from one to five, kids naturally seem to grasp the concept of numbers.
The melon bread that appears many times in the song has its own storyline, allowing children to enjoy using their imagination.
By changing your voice and using broad gestures, you can have fun together with the children.
Close It, Open Itdōyō
The children’s song “Musunde Hiraite” is a famous tune known by people of all ages.
You play along by making fists, opening your hands, and clapping in time with the lyrics.
Hand-play songs help develop a sense of rhythm, and this one also lets kids practice the rock-paper-scissors hand shapes.
At the end of the song, there are instructions on where to place your hands, so try changing it to fun spots kids will enjoy—like up or down, on their knees or head.
Once they get used to it, it’s also great to add movements they like, such as dancing while they play.
Hana-chan, the applewarabeuta
This song is a very cute traditional children’s tune for enjoying close interaction with a baby.
You sing while gently touching parts of the face, making it perfect for skin-to-skin bonding.
The repeated rhythm of the short lyrics feels pleasant, and it’s appealing because even infants from newborn age can enjoy it.
It’s especially recommended for babies around 4–5 months old, and it’s said to have a positive effect on language development.
If you change the baby’s name in the lyrics, it feels even more personal.
It’s also nice to sing it during the autumn apple season.
It’s a warm, friendly song that not only nursery and kindergarten teachers can enjoy, but also parents and children together.
Cherry Mamboroketto kureyon
Rocket Crayon’s songs are popular as play-along tunes that encourage parent-child bonding and interaction among children.
Set to a rhythmic mambo-style beat, the choreography—holding hands, letting go, and sticking together like cherries—is absolutely adorable.
It’s full of simple, fun actions and clever touches that naturally bring out smiles! These songs are a big hit at nurseries and kindergartens, perfect for sensory play and expressive movement.
Singing and dancing together as a family also deepens emotional connection.
You can watch this work on YouTube and more, so it’s easy to enjoy at home too.