[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!

Playlist

[Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Pom-pom ExerciseSakushi: Sakura Tomoko / Sakkyoku: Ozawa Tatsuyuki		Rhythmic Songs for Parents and Children
2	Dango, dango, they stuck together.Sakushi / Sakkyoku: Nanbu Jidō Sentā		A hand game where you stick dumplings together and play
3	Horn, horn, hoooorn!Suzuki Tsubasa・Fukuda Sho		Fun singing games that nurture children's curiosity
4	Sushi sushi sushiSakushi/Sakkyoku: Taniguchi Kunihiro		Have fun playing with a sushi-themed fingerplay song
5	cleaning ragwarabeuta		The charm of fingerplay songs enjoyed by parents and children
6	Please have a seat; here’s a chair.warabeuta		Kyoto parent–child nursery rhymes and touch-based play
7	On the busSakushi/Sakkyoku: Taniguchi Kunihiro		A fingerplay song to enjoy the movement of a bus
8	spool (of thread); winding thread; Itomaki (traditional toy spinning top), depending on contextSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Komori Akihiro		The fun hand play song of the spool (Itomaki)
9	Mr. Raccoon Dog of Genkotsu MountainSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Komori Akihiro		Let's enjoy the classic hand play song with the family
10	all over each other; stuck together; clingyKeroponzu		Have fun by putting your heads together in a children's song
11	five melon breadsSakushi: Nakagawa Hirotaka / Sakkyoku: Igirisu Min’yō		Fostering numeracy and imagination through a melon-pan hand play song
12	Close It, Open Itdōyō		Tie Your Hands, Open Them: The Charm of Fingerplay Songs
13	Hana-chan, the applewarabeuta		A warm nursery rhyme to sing with your baby
14	Cherry Mamboroketto kureyon		A rhythmic children's song for parents and kids to enjoy together
15	otebushitebushiwarabeuta		Enjoy hiding the ball with a fingerplay song
16	Fukusuke-sanwarabeuta		Massage with the toe play song 'Fukusuke-san'
17	If you’re happy and you know it, clap your handsSakamoto Kyu		Smiles on children's faces with a fun hand-play song
18	men-men suu-suuwarabeuta		A song-based game where you touch a baby's facial features
19	Crocodile familySakushi: Kamitsubo Maya / Sakkyoku: Mine Akira		Let's have fun with the crocodile family fingerplay song
20	Cobbler Cobbler, mend my shoe		A children's song about asking a cobbler to make repairs
21	Tokyo-to Nihonbashiwarabeuta		Fun parent-child time with tickle play
22	Horse lessonswarabeuta		Let's play horsey practice!
23	HAPPY HONEY HORSENo-zan Ho-su Pa-ku		Parents and children have fun bonding with a horse-themed hand play song
24	Chagpon DanceSakushi Sakkyoku: Tada Joji		Fostering community pride through Iwate’s Umako (horse) dance
25	Foal’s Rhythm PlayMonbushō shōka		A playful rhythmic chant that expresses the hoofbeats of a foal
26	horse (childish/affectionate term)Sakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Matsushima Tsune		A song story depicting the affection between a foal and its mother horse
27	Zuizui Zukkorobashiwarabeuta		Hand games are a form of interaction that everyone can enjoy.
28	Panda, rabbit, koalasakushi: Takada Hiroo / sakkyoku: Inui Yūki		A fun hand-play song with a panda, rabbit, and koala
29	Wonderful dadSakushi sakkyoku: Maeda Keiko		Warm lyrics and music that stays close to children
30	Spring came pop-pop-popsakushi: kozue hikari / sakkyoku: sako shinichirō		Brighten and energize children's hearts with songs of spring
31	DenderaryubaNagasaki-ken warabe uta		Hand game in a Nagasaki children's song is complicated
32	chacha jarwarabeuta		Have fun with the brain-training hand game 'Chachatsubo Chatsubo'
33	Let’s clap our handssakushi: kobayashi jun’ichi/genkyoku: cheko minyō		A song that expresses joy with handclaps, loved by a wide range of generations.
34	One, two, three, four, two, five		A traditional counting nursery rhyme enjoyed with finger play
35	The fish jumps.		A fun hand game where fish jump and stick together
36	Are you good at brushing your teeth?Sakushi: Enoki Fujio / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		Support children's habit-building with a toothbrushing song
37	Banana Parent and ChildSakushi: Seki Kazuo / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		The song of a banana parent and child on a southern island, fun to sing.
38	Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star		Introduction to the hand play for “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
39	Donut SongSakushi/Sakkyoku: Makimiki		Makimiki’s donut nursery rhyme, fun for parents and kids
40	Tonton Tomato-chanSakushi/Sakkyoku: Hamada Rie		The captivating music of children's programs on NHK E-Tele
41	a cat’s child; a kittenSakushi / Sakkyoku: Deguchi Chikara		Gentle cat-themed hand-play songs for parent-child communication
42	Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira		A nursery rhyme about the excitement of riding a bus
43	Chochi chochi awawa.warabeuta		Games that strengthen the parent-child bond through nursery rhymes
44	A-I-U-E-O nigiriSakushi Sakkyoku: Shuu Saeko		Singing about the joy of making rice balls and the bonds of family
45	Get on the busSakushi sakkyoku: Taniguchi Kunihiro		The charm of a nursery rhyme that delights in the bus’s jostling
46	Animal Exercises 1-2-3Sakushi • Sakkyoku: Abe Naomi		A fun kids’ exercise song with animal movements
47	Picnicdeguchi takashi		Takashi Deguchi’s Field Picnic Hand-Play Song
48	tea pickingbunkashō shōka		A masterpiece portraying Japan’s traditional culture and natural beauty
49	Song of a little birdsakushi: Yoda Jun’ichi / sakkyoku: Akutagawa Yasushi		An adorable nursery rhyme of a little bird calling out to its parent.
50	Abuku-tatta		Parent-child bonding through baby massage
51	Tickle Tickle Train		Tickle-train play to enjoy with baby massage
52	oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)		Oshikura manju is a winter playground song.
53	Forehead, nose, mouth		A massage where you touch the baby’s body while singing
54	Squeezing rice balls		Stimulate the senses with fingerplay songs to support infant development
55	Goodbye, ankoro mochi.		A traditional song of wordplay that wishes for reunion
56	somen (thin Japanese wheat noodles)		Baby smiles during somen noodle massage
57	Vegetable Song		Learn food education in a fun way through the sounds and movements of vegetables
58	La-la-la daikon		Skinship with your baby through the Daikon game
59	nursery rhyme massage		Interacting with babies on a narrow bridge
60	Shopping at the bakery		A massage song that likens a baby's face to bread
61	Fururira~		Music with lyrics about rain that soothes babies
62	Mom’s Slide		Let the baby play on your lap with a baby massage song.
63	Mickey Mouse March		A song that teaches names by touching a baby's body
64	Bamboo shoots are sprouting.warabeuta		Warm children's hearts with spring hand-play songs
65	Not bad, hoi! A children’s songwarabeuta		Nursery rhymes are a treasure trove of children's play.
66	lazyboneswarabe uta		Celebrate the arrival of spring with a horsetail (tsukushi) children's song
67	Opened, openedwarabe uta		A spring children's song, singing of nature and tradition
68	egg eggSakushi / Sakkyoku: Muroki Michiru		Nurturing imagination with the hand game 'Tamago Tamago'
69	TulipSakushi: Kondo Miyako / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi		Spring nursery rhymes are songs popular with children.
70	Rolling EggsSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Fushou		A fun hand-play song with repeated movements
71	Head, Shoulders, Knees—pon!Sakushi: Fushō / Sakkyoku: Igirisu minyō		A hand-play song that touches body parts, fun for learning
72	Knock knock knock knock, Grandpa with a beardSakushi: Fushō / Sakkyoku: Tamayama Hidenobu		A nursery rhyme grandfather who joyfully expresses himself with hand-play songs
73	Gonbe-san’s BabySakushi: Tashiga Akira / Sakkyoku: Amerika min’yō		A song about holding a baby with a tenugui (Japanese hand towel)
74	Let’s clap our handsSakushi: Kobayashi Jun’ichi / Sakkyoku: Chekosurobakia min’yō		Let's enjoy hand-play songs with expressive faces
75	Vegetable SongYamano Satoko		Music that joyfully sings the names of vegetables
76	yomogi-jōbu nowarabeuta		A Song of Children's Play and Nature's Blessings
77	Full Moon Night’s Mochi Poundingwarabeuta		Moon-viewing night of the fifteenth, Mochi-Pounding Game
78	Piglet-raccoon dog-fox-catSakushi/Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naozumi		Have fun with animal sounds through a shiritori song
79	Old Man with a BeardSakushi: Fushō / Sakkyoku: Tamayama Hidenobu		Tonton Hige Jiisan hand-clapping song
80	My Mixed JuiceSakushi: Gomi Taro / Sakkyoku: Shibuya Takeshi		Brighten your mood with making mixed juice
81	Teacher and friendsSakushi: Yoshioka Osamu / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi		A song that can make the teacher a friend you can feel at ease with
82	What shall we make with rock, scissors, paper?Lyrics: Saitō Fumiko ・ Production: Good Choice / Composition: French folk song		A game where you represent animals and objects using hand shapes
83	Story FingerSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Komori Akihiro		A nursery rhyme that likens fingers to family members and is popular with children.
84	The Bento Box SongSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Komori Akihiro		Let's have fun playing with the Bento Song!
85	the head priest of a templewarabeuta		Rock-paper-scissors play with the temple monk
86	Gramps and Grannywarabeuta		Nursery rhymes to enjoy with your baby
87	Squeeze, squeeze, kashiwa mochi.Sakushi: Sakura Tomoko / Sakkyoku: Ozawa Tatsuyuki		Enjoying with children using the Kashiwa-mochi hand-play song