Kids go wild! Popular hand games and fun sing-alongs
Kids love fingerplay! When the teacher cheerfully sings and moves their hands, the children’s eyes light up as if to say, “What’s starting?” They gaze intently or try to imitate, showing such adorable reactions.
Fingerplay is essential in early childhood settings—for introducing activities or drawing children’s attention.
So this time, we’re introducing popular fingerplays and action songs for kids.
From classic routines often used in nurseries and kindergartens to trendy new ones, we’ve got plenty that will captivate children.
Find options that match their interests and age, and give them a try!
Kids Will Love It! Popular Hand Play and Fun Singing Games (1–10)
Kera Kera Rock-Paper-ScissorsNEW!kerakera
As a way to break the ice with children who are excited and a little nervous about the new environment during entrance ceremonies or class promotions, how about Kerakera’s “Kerakera Janken”? This song uses the universally known game of rock-paper-scissors as its motif and is a simple play-along tune where you just throw rock, scissors, or paper to the rhythm.
It’s a single released in October 2014 by the unit known for the theme song of the drama “Last Cinderella,” and it was later included on the album “Kerakeraland.” The music video also drew attention for featuring Nozomi Tsuji.
If you move your body in time with the shout-along lyrics, smiles are sure to follow.
Get the parents involved too, and try it as a recreational activity to get the whole venue buzzing.
Are you okay? Whoops.Suzuki Tsubasa
How about the fingerplay song “Daijoubu? Zukko,” featuring animals that kids love? This fingerplay is full of humor and has a delightfully fun storyline.
As the animals curl up one after another and ask, “Are you okay?”, you can almost hear the children bursting into laughter.
It’s very popular in nurseries and kindergartens, and when parents and teachers join in, smiles are guaranteed! Give it a try as a fun fingerplay that nurtures communication skills and imagination.
skylark skylarkNEW!warabeuta asobi
In the pleasantly breezy month of May, here’s a nursery rhyme game with a springtime bird theme that we hope parents and children will enjoy at a relaxed pace.
It’s characterized by short, repeated phrases that call to the birds and depict traveling over mountains and through valleys.
You can rock your child on your lap, use your fingertips to represent hills and valleys—there’s no single right way to play! Though it’s a traditional song passed down in local communities since long ago, new audio recordings with fresh ways of singing were released as recently as March 2021, and it continues to be loved today in various forms, especially in early childhood settings.
Precisely because there’s no fixed answer, you can tailor it to your child’s age and the atmosphere of the moment—that’s the charm of this piece.
On a warm, sunny day, why not find your own original way to play together with your child?
A bamboo shoot has sprouted.NEW!warabeuta asobi
A children’s hand-play song that vividly expresses the growth of bamboo shoots, which are in season from spring to early summer.
Through hand motions, kids enjoy the story of a sprout emerging from the soil, a flower blooming with a pop, and finally being snipped with scissors.
Because the rock-paper-scissors hand shapes—fist, scissors, and open hand—are naturally built into the actions, it’s also perfect for helping children learn the rules of the game.
Though it’s a traditional folk song passed down through generations, its introduction on children’s programs like those on NHK has helped it become a familiar group activity in preschools and kindergartens.
It typically ends with everyone chanting “Essa, essa!” together and deciding the winner with rock-paper-scissors.
On a fresh May day under the blue sky, get moving energetically with your family and friends!
The fish jumps.Sakushi/Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
“Sakana ga Hanete” is a classic hand-play song that kids love.
Besides moving their hands to the music, you can adapt it to check for forgotten items using familiar things like hats, masks, and gloves.
You can also swap “stuck to the head” for a ribbon, crown, or straw hat; “stuck to the eyes” for sunglasses or a telescope—or goggles on pool days.
Incorporate seasonal items too to boost the children’s excitement.
Shopping at the bakerySakushi: Sakura Tomoko / Sakkyoku: Ozawa Tatsuyuki
While playing both the customer and the baker, you can enjoy a fun hand-play activity set in a bakery—perhaps a relatively new song in the hand-play repertoire.
As you rhythmically act it out, you express different types of bread through gestures.
It might also be fun to come up with new kinds of bread yourselves and add corresponding gestures.
The Bento BusSakushi / Sakkyoku: Shinju Mariko
This fun song, which combines kids’ favorite lunchboxes and buses, is a big hit at nurseries and kindergartens.
Its distinctive style features a bright, lively melody that sings about food-character ingredients hopping onto the bus one after another.
Based on a picture book published in 2006, the piece later inspired a play-activity book, opening up many ways to enjoy it.
It’s packed with playful learning elements—helping children learn food names and develop a sense of rhythm.
Sing and dance along with your child, and you’re sure to share a wonderful, smile-filled time together.
tangledSuzuki Tsubasa・Fukuda Sho
This song delivered by Tsubasa Suzuki and Sho Fukuda is perfect for children’s favorite hand-play games.
The lyrics, which depict tangled-up ninjas and rabbits, are full of humor and are sure to bring smiles.
It’s included on the album “Shokun-Tsukun no Karamatta Tehe!” released in July 2016, and has become popular in nursery schools and kindergartens.
The rhythmic choreography and the cute little “Tehe!” at the end are sure to capture children’s hearts.
It’s a recommended track for times when everyone wants to enjoy hand-play together, such as during morning meetings or at the end of the day.
Horn, horn, hoooorn!Suzuki Tsubasa・Fukuda Sho
A singing game that excites children’s “I wonder what it is?” mood: “Tsuno Tsuno Tsū-no.” The choreography—swaying the ‘horns’ you make with your index fingers to a relaxed rhythm—is super cute, isn’t it? The unique lyrics that make kids think, “What will come next?” are fun and spark their curiosity, and they also seem to help them develop the ability to listen attentively.
A rapid parade of many animals appears, so children who love animals will be thrilled.
Be sure to belt out the final “None!” with lots of energy and have fun!
The department store with the penguin logoSakushi / Sakkyoku: Inukai Seiji
The hand-play song written and composed by Seiji Inukai has a cute theme inspired by a department store.
With its cheerful lyrics and rhythmic melody, children can pretend to be penguins and joyfully move their hands while singing.
It lets them express a journey through various shops from the first to the fifth floor, which seems to nurture their imagination.
It’s said that nursery and kindergarten teachers use sketchbook theater to make it visually engaging as well.
If everyone sings and dances together, smiles are guaranteed!