Kids go wild! Popular hand games and fun sing-alongs

Are you okay? Whoops.Suzuki Tsubasa

[Hand Play / Childcare] You Okay? Zukko / Tsubasa Suzuki [Animals / Play Songs / Parenting]

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.

Kera Kera Rock-Paper-Scissorskerakera

Kerakera – [Kids Start Dancing] The Kerakera Rock-Paper-Scissors dance is super cute!! [Full Size]

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.

The fish jumps.Sakushi/Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka

[Summer classic! Hand-play song] The Fish Jumps

“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.

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Spring nursery rhyme [Hibari Hibari] Parent-child play [Childcare]

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?

The Bento BusSakushi / Sakkyoku: Shinju Mariko

Obento Bus | Hand-play Song Video

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.

The department store with the penguin logoSakushi / Sakkyoku: Inukai Seiji

Penguin-mark department store | Nursery teachers demonstrate a hugely popular fingerplay song♪

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!

Song of the Gluttonous GorillaSakushi: Abe Naomi / Sakkyoku: Ozawa Tatsuyuki

[Hand Play Song] The Greedy Gorilla [With Singing and Movements]

This song, starring a gluttonous gorilla, is a hand-play tune that humorously portrays kids eating their beloved bananas.

With its lively rhythm and catchy melody, it’s perfect for getting children excited and engaged.

After being featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” it became widely popular.

It’s an ideal song to kick off activities at nurseries and kindergartens, or to help children switch gears.

Everyone can have fun playing along while expressing “Sour!” and “Sweet!” together!