Lovely childcare

[Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherDr. Chick
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherRisa Shibata
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.

For children, hand-play songs where they sing and interact with familiar adults and friends are so much fun.

Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes are said to have a very positive effect on children’s brain and emotional development.

It’s something we’d love to incorporate a lot into everyday life.

So this time, we’re introducing hand-play songs and nursery rhymes that parents and children can enjoy together.

From classic tunes everyone has heard to popular songs sung in daycare centers and kindergartens, there’s a lot to choose from!

Please try to find songs you can enjoy together that match your children’s age and interests.

Many of these songs have a good tempo and catchy melodies or phrases, so they’re easy to learn right away!

[Parenting] Parent-Child Bonding! Hand-Play Songs and Traditional Nursery Rhymes (71–80)

The Bento Box SongLyrics: Yoshiko Kayama / Music: Akihiro Komori

[Children’s Song] The Lunchbox Song / Daisuke Yokoyama

Song of the Lunchbox (Lyrics: Yoshiko Kayama / Music: Akihiro Komori)

Let’s play with “Obento-bako no Uta,” a song known for its slightly humorous, cheerful melody and lyrics.

It’s a popular hand-play game that turns the contents of a lunchbox into fun gesture-dance moves.

Once you can dance it at a normal tempo, try singing it more slowly next.

Make your singing voice heavy and unhurried as well.

After that, try making a small lunchbox.

Use a small voice and tiny gestures to complete your little bento.

Exaggerating both versions makes it many times funnier.

Play it with friends and family and have a good laugh together.

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DenderaryubaNagasaki Prefecture children's song

Denderaryuba

Denderaryu-ba, a children's song from Nagasaki Prefecture

Do you know the children’s song “Denderaryūba”? It’s a slightly complex and fun hand game.

The lyrics have a mysterious sound, almost like a regional dialect, and in fact this nursery rhyme comes from Nagasaki Prefecture.

Along with the chant-like lyrics, the hand motions are also curious and intricate.

In time with the song, you rhythmically change combinations of your knuckles, thumbs, and index fingers on the palm of your other hand.

Start slowly to get used to it, and once you can move smoothly, gradually pick up the pace.

If you can make it through without any mistakes, it’s sure to feel very satisfying.

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the head priest of a templechildren’s song

"The Temple Monk (Heisei Version)" – Children's Song and Hand-Play Song (For Nursery and Kindergarten) – Fist Version

The temple monk’s children’s song

A nursery rhyme you can finish with rock-paper-scissors: “Otera no Oshō-san.” Many moms and dads may remember singing this one.

Since the monk grows flowers and flies through the sky, try using hand motions that match those actions.

The lyrics vary by generation and region, but every version includes rock-paper-scissors, so sing it with whichever lyrics you like.

It’s also fun to make up your own original lyrics and movements to play along.

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[Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection (81–90)

chacha jarchildren’s song

[Hand Game] Chachatsubo Chatsubo — Recommended for Kindergartens, Nursery Schools, and Teaching Practicums!

Chachatsubo nursery rhyme

Introducing a hand game that will leave your head and body in a total muddle when you keep playing.

It’s a traditional children’s hand game performed while singing “Cha-cha-tsubo Cha-tsubo,” moving both hands to match the lyrics.

You switch back and forth in time with the song between one hand shaped like a tea jar and the other hand acting as the lid—almost like brain training.

This hand game that tangles up your thoughts gets everyone excited when you play it together.

Once it starts, you can’t help but think, “Alright, I’m not going to mess up this time!” It gets even more fun if you start slow and gradually speed up the tempo.

Let’s play it with everyone like a game.

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In conclusion

There were plenty of songs that seem fun to enjoy with your baby, weren’t there? Children grow up before you know it.

To make this very moment a “precious parent-child time” you can look back on in the future, please use this article and have fun together!