[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!
- Parent–child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare settings and at parent–child observation days.
- [For 0-year-olds] Recommended songs for babies: A special feature on bonding play and traditional nursery rhymes
- Baby massage song. A touch-and-play song that parents and children can enjoy together.
- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
- Get excited! A list of popular and fun hand games that captivate children
- Kids go wild! Popular hand games and fun sing-alongs
- Popular hand games and hand game songs for toddlers and children! Full of ideas for childcare/early childhood education.
- Handkerchief and Towel Play! A Collection of Fun Play Ideas
- [Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.
- Nursery rhymes to sing to your baby! Recommended songs enjoyable from 0 months
- Ideas for Performances Recommended for 0-Year-Olds at Recitals and Play Events
- [For 1-year-olds] Fun Together! Recommended Songs and Hand Play Collection
- Snow Songs to Enjoy in Winter! Children's Snow Nursery Rhymes & Hand-Play Songs
[Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes (31–40)
Teacher and friendsSakushi: Yoshioka Osamu / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
For children starting their first days at preschool, teachers might feel like a bit of a mystery—“What kind of person are they?” “Sensei to Otomodachi” is a bright and friendly song that reassures children that teachers are someone they can feel safe with.
The lyrics are simple and easy to understand, and the song is short, making it accessible even for very young kids.
If you add simple choreography or have the teachers sing using animal or character puppets, children who feel nervous or anxious in a new environment will surely become interested.
Let’s sing with smiles and lots of energy!
Are you good at brushing your teeth?Sakushi: Enoki Fujio / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako
This is an adorable song designed to make toothbrushing time fun.
Featured on the NHK educational program “Okaasan to Issho,” it has been beloved since the 1980s, with a bright, lighthearted melody that stands out.
Its upbeat tempo naturally makes children want to move, and within the show it has become established as the cue for brushing teeth.
With lyrics and choreography that make everyday habits like handwashing and toothbrushing enjoyable, it’s sure to capture children’s interest.
Just like on the show, it’s also recommended as a signal to start toothbrushing time at home.
somen (thin Japanese wheat noodles)
This is a baby massage song performed by stroking the body in time with the lyrics “Somen somen tsuru-tsuru.” By varying the sensations—like flowing somen, three-color somen, poured-over somen, and chilled somen—you’ll likely bring out your baby’s smiles.
Because there are no big movements and it involves gentle strokes while the baby lies down, it can be done safely from the newborn stage.
By adjusting the intensity of stimulation, toddlers can enjoy it too.
Look closely at your child’s face and touch them gently.
Vegetable Song
It incorporates cooking motions—like “kyukyu” for cucumbers and “ton-ton” for tomatoes—touches on smells with Chinese cabbage by saying “It smells stinky,” and plays with changing sounds for grapes with “booboo-boo,” offering lots of stimulating elements.
It will be interesting to see how your child reacts.
Since many vegetable and fruit names appear, it’s also recommended as an introduction to food education for children.
By repeating it, your child may find a favorite phrase, such as “ton-ton-ton.”
Shopping at the bakery
This is a distinctive baby massage song that likens a baby’s face to different kinds of bread.
Gently cup the face with your hands for a sandwich, the plump cheeks are melon bread, the tiny nose is a twisted donut, and the cute ears are bread crusts—touch each part in time with the lyrics.
Occasionally give gentle pokes to the body as well, so the baby can feel which part is being touched.
Some babies may dislike having their faces touched at first, but as they get used to it, they will gradually start to smile.
[Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional children's rhymes collection (41–50)
Opened, openedwarabe uta
Long beloved as a traditional Japanese children’s song, this piece enchants with lyrics that evoke the arrival of spring.
Children enjoy joining hands to form a circle and act out flowers opening and closing.
Despite its simple words and melody, it embodies Japanese views of nature and impermanence, giving it profound appeal.
It is often sung in kindergartens and nursery schools, contributing to children’s emotional development.
Passed down since the Edo period, this song is recommended for those who want to feel the spring season or experience traditional Japanese culture.
Why not sing it with your child and enjoy the coming of spring together?
Get on the busSakushi sakkyoku: Taniguchi Kunihiro
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.