[Childcare] Fun Rhythm Play! Recommended Games and Hand-Clapping/Hand-Play for Kids
Rhythm play—moving the body in time with rhythms, songs, and music—is said to nurture not only a sense of rhythm, but also expressiveness, social skills, and physical ability.
It is one of the essential activities for healthy child development.
With that in mind, here are some recommended rhythm-based activities that can be enjoyed in nursery schools and kindergartens.
From gymnastics, eurhythmics, hand games, and group games to quick activities you can do in spare moments and more in-depth, focused ones, there’s a wide range of play that will spark children’s curiosity.
Get moving with your whole body and enjoy these activities together with the children!
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[Childcare] Fun Rhythm Play! Recommended Games and Hand-Clapping/Action Songs for Kids (21–30)
Animal Role-Playing Game
Here’s a pretend-play animal game that builds expressive skills.
The teacher tells the children the name of the animal they should transform into.
When the teacher hits the drum once, the children turn into that animal.
There are no set movements, so encourage the children to freely and boldly express the animal’s movements as they imagine them.
When the teacher hits the drum twice, they return to being human.
Repeat this pattern and have everyone enjoy fully becoming the animals.
Listen carefully to the sound of the drum, transform into different animals, and have fun moving your bodies together across mixed age groups.
Color hunt to the rhythm
This is a game where you look for colors posted on the wall and point to them.
Move your body to the music and announce the colors during the song.
While singing, move to the rhythm and look for the colors on the wall.
Even if you find where they are, pointing is not allowed while the music is playing.
When the music stops, everyone points to the colors on the wall together on the count of “Ready, go!” If you post lots of colors and increase the number, you can play longer.
It’s a game that’s fun with small or large groups.
It’s especially recommended for children who are just starting to learn colors.
Tanuki of Fist Mountain
Let’s enjoy Rock-Paper-Scissors at the end of the hand game! We’ll introduce the hand game “Genkotsuyama no Tanukisan.” For children, hand games are an important activity where they can learn while having fun.
Through play that uses the hands, they develop finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination, so many parents and teachers may include them before and after activities.
The “Genkotsuyama no Tanukisan” hand game is packed with rhythm and fun.
Its simple, easy-to-remember lyrics are another point that makes it enjoyable with children.
By adding Rock-Paper-Scissors at the end of the hand game, it’s sure to get the kids excited.
Head, Shoulders, Knees—pon!
Have fun touching your own body with “Head, Shoulders, Knees—Clap.” It’s sung to the melody of the English nursery rhyme “London Bridge Is Falling Down.” As you sing, do hand motions by touching the body parts mentioned in the lyrics.
If it’s “head,” touch your head; for eyes or nose, pointing is fine too.
After touching your knees, clap once.
First, let your child watch the moves, then have them imitate you, or gently guide their hands and move together.
It’s also a great chance for them to learn the names of their body parts and discover what each place is called.
Hoop Music Play
Let me share some ideas for playing with music using hula hoops.
All you need is a piano and large hula hoops.
Eurhythmics nurtures children’s interest in music and their abilities by moving the body to music and playing with rhythm.
While it’s possible to do these activities without any props, why not try eurhythmics ideas that use hula hoops? By moving the hula hoops to the music or along the scale, children can enjoy the fun of expressing themselves with their bodies.
Let’s have a snack!
Perfect for snack time! Let us introduce you to the hand game “Oyatsu Tabeyo” (Let’s Eat a Snack).
For children, mealtime and snack time are not just about nutrition—they are an important part of growth and learning.
They’re also a chance to communicate with parents, teachers, and friends, and a valuable time to discover new flavors and food cultures through what they eat.
Featuring a variety of foods and catchy chants, the “Oyatsu Tabeyo” hand game is perfect for creating a fun atmosphere! Give it a try!
Seven Steps
Let’s have fun with a counting song fingerplay! Here are some ideas for Seven Steps.
This activity is a rhythm game that nurtures concentration by counting while moving the body.
Some children may find it a bit difficult until they get used to the rules, but sharing the sense of accomplishment with friends when they succeed will deepen their bonds.
If they make mistakes, don’t get discouraged—keep the atmosphere light and try again! This can help foster children’s perseverance and a mindset that doesn’t give up.