Get excited! A list of popular and fun hand games that captivate children

Panda, rabbit, koala

♪Panda, Bunny, Koala – Come here, come here, come here, come here, Panda, Panda~♪ [Hand play song / nursery rhyme]

Let’s transform into cute animals and play! We’re introducing the hand game “Panda, Bunny, Koala.” Become those animals you’ve seen in picture books or at the zoo! Use your hands to show each animal’s features and have fun.

Once you get used to the game, try speeding it up partway through—it can really liven things up.

Through this hand play, children can imitate and learn animal movements and traits while also developing concentration and a sense of rhythm.

It’s even funny when you accidentally do the wrong action! Give it a try and add it to your playtime.

Fun for adults too! “Fluffy Snow”

January hand game “Fluffy Snow♪” (with lyrics) – a winter hand play that childcare workers and moms and dads recommend, and that children love! Nursery rhyme & Japanese children’s song

This is a fingerplay song where you build a snowman and look for numbers hidden in the lyrics.

It doesn’t include every number from 1 to 9, but there are surprisingly many hidden ones—see how many you can find.

In this fingerplay, the snowman’s eyes are made with mandarins, the nose with a carrot, and the eyebrows with a cucumber.

It’s fun to imagine what the face will look like.

Asking “What would you use to make yours?” will likely get everyone excited.

When it snows, try making the snowman you imagined.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

Mochi Glasses & Mochi-Pounding Peta-peta-petan-ko

[January Fingerplay] Mochi Glasses♪ “Mochi-Pounding Pettan Pettanko~” A song kids sing every day at nursery school/kindergarten after winter break! Children’s song! (With lyrics)

When making mochi, we use the onomatopoeic word “pettan,” don’t we? In this fingerplay song, you touch your thumb to each of your other fingers in time with that sound to act out pounding mochi.

And what you end up with isn’t a kagami-mochi, but… mochi glasses! They look like they’d really stick to your face, but it seems like a fun way to spark kids’ imaginations about what to make with mochi.

Moving your fingers precisely is trickier than it looks, so start slowly at first.

Once you get the hang of it, try speeding up for a challenge.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

egg egg

Tamago Tamago | Hand Play Video Channel “ASOBE”

“When the egg goes pop and cracks open, what will come out?” This is a hand-play game called “Tamago Tamago” that captivates children and nurtures their imagination.

Use both hands to show the egg cracking.

If you have the kids imitate you, it’s sure to be a hit! At first, a familiar chick appears, and as it levels up to a snake, a penguin, a monster, and more, the children are sure to smile! It might also be fun to prompt them with, “What will be born next?” to spark even more curiosity.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Even with just one, it’s a carrot.

Even one carrot [Hirake Ponkikki] with gestures/piano accompaniment/a numbers song

Perfect for learning numbers! Let me introduce the hand game “Ippon demo Ninjin.” It’s great for learning the concept of numbers, and the humor in the lyrics makes it a wonderful hand game! As you count, different items appear in rhythm, making it a fun activity.

It’s also unique that the next number is hidden within the lyrics, which helps children learn numbers and words while enjoying the song.

The choreography is easy for kids to imitate, too.

Be sure to incorporate it into your activities!

Cha-cha-cha of the Snowman

Recommended for January: Winter fingerplay song “Snowman Cha-Cha-Cha” #NurserySchool #NurseryTeacher #Shorts #ASKNurserySchool #PreschoolPracticum

Here’s a hand-play song with a wintery theme of “snow” and “snowmen.” In this song, you first use both hands to show snow falling and piling up.

Then, you touch your fingertips together to make the round shape of a snowman, and finally, you rotate your clenched hands in front of your chest to show a dancing snowman.

It’s short, but it sparks children’s imaginations and teaches them the joy of playing in the snow.

If the part where you clap quickly three times is difficult, slow down the overall tempo and enjoy it at a comfortable speed.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

spool (of thread); winding thread; Itomaki (traditional toy spinning top), depending on context

The Spool-Winding Song [Hand Play Song]

Let’s enjoy rhythm together with children! I’d like to introduce the hand play for “Itomaki” (The Spinning Song).

Hand-play songs can serve as a tool for communication with parents, teachers, and sometimes friends, creating wonderful moments that deepen bonds.

The charm lies in being able to experience fun and learning at the same time while playing.

Through the familiar “Itomaki” hand play that parents and teachers have known since they were young, let’s move our bodies to the rhythm and melody and enjoy feeling music and rhythm! Be sure to incorporate it into your activities.