Lovely childcare

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

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

Here are some fun hand-play ideas that will captivate children!

Move your hands and body to the songs and rhythms of hand-play, and both kids and adults can enjoy it together.

Have fun matching the songs and movements of the hand-play.

Through communication with friends, children can create precious memories as they play.

It’s easy to do anywhere, so try incorporating it as an opener for childcare events and other activities!

Enjoy hand-play with the children and spend a wonderful time together.

Get Excited! A List of Popular and Fun Hand-Play Games That Captivate Kids (31–40)

Hand game ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Clap’

Head, shoulders, knees, pat (with actions)

Hand game 'Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Clap'

Let me introduce “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” a game played to an English folk tune! In this activity, you touch different parts of your body with your hands in time with the song.

Infants can enjoy it as a bonding game with their parents, and preschoolers will have fun moving their hands quickly to different spots with the rhythm.

Because it’s a bright, upbeat song, performing it at an entrance ceremony would instantly make the atmosphere lively and festive.

Sing, play, and have fun together!

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Ogre’s Pants

[Hand Play] Oni's Underpants (with motions) [Takashi's Hand Play & Children's Songs] Japanese Children’s Song, Finger Play Songs

Ogre's Pants

“Oni no Pantsu” is a hand-play song that kids absolutely love.

It’s so much fun to sing out loud, “We’re strong!” The lyrics include colorful pants like red, yellow, and blue, so children naturally learn the names of colors.

It’s perfect for Setsubun season, but it’s great any time of year.

We also recommend playing together with small props inspired by the ogre’s pants.

Since it’s a song that sticks in kids’ memories, it would be wonderful to create a lively atmosphere by singing it together and having fun.

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The Bento Box Song

[Hand Play] The Bento Lunch Box Song♪

The Bento Box Song

Many of you have probably sung this at least once.

It’s a hand-play song that parents and children can enjoy together: while packing ingredients into a lunchbox and singing, kids can learn the names of vegetables, and through the hand motions they can also learn numbers.

When you’re making it for a big elephant, sing at a slow tempo; for a little ant, sing faster with rhythmic gestures.

Even very young babies will be interested and watch and listen.

It’s a play activity that lets parents and babies communicate from an early age, so give it a try and have fun.

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Hand play ‘The Flower Smiled’

The Flower Smiled – The Flower Smiled, The Flower Smiled~ (with choreography) [Children’s Song, Piano Accompaniment]

Hand play 'The Flower Smiled'

How about enjoying a hand-play activity with the children’s song “Ohanaga Waratta,” which is perfect for spring entrance ceremonies? You can make flowers with your hands and open them with a pop—it’s a very simple and cute choreography.

Playing it together with children who may be nervous in a new place, or having teachers perform it, could help ease some of that tension.

This song might also convey that kindergarten or nursery school is a fun place.

Please consider it as a performance idea.

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Mitsuya Cider

[Hand Play] ♪ Mitsuya Cider <with choreography>

Mitsuya Cider

The hand game “Mitsuya Cider” introduces the numbers 1 through 3 and gives children a chance to engage with numbers.

It cutely expresses the fizzing of cider and has a song structure that’s easy for kids to imitate.

The key point is the wordplay on counting “one, two, three” (hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu) and “Mitsuya Cider”! Children can learn how to count at the same time.

Plus, you can liven things up by freely arranging the lyrics in the middle section.

Be sure to include this hand game and enjoy a fun time with the children!

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