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 (1–10)

Cherry MamboRocket Crayon

[Interaction/Parent & Child] Cherry Mambo / Rocket Crayon [Childcare/Parenting/April/May/June/Fruit/Fruits/Play Song/Children’s Song]

Cherry Mambo Rocket Crayon

Rocket Crayon’s songs are popular as play-along tunes that encourage parent-child bonding and interaction among children.

Set to a rhythmic mambo-style beat, the choreography—holding hands, letting go, and sticking together like cherries—is absolutely adorable.

It’s full of simple, fun actions and clever touches that naturally bring out smiles! These songs are a big hit at nurseries and kindergartens, perfect for sensory play and expressive movement.

Singing and dancing together as a family also deepens emotional connection.

You can watch this work on YouTube and more, so it’s easy to enjoy at home too.

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spool (of thread); winding thread; Itomaki (traditional toy spinning top), depending on contextLyrics: Yoshiko Kayama / Music: Akihiro Komori

[Nursery Rhyme / Finger Play] The Itomaki Song (The Spool Threading Song) / gaagaaS [Childcare/Play Songs/Parenting/Children’s Songs] Children’s Song, Nursery Rhymes & Finger Plays

Itomaki; Lyrics by Yoshiko Kayama / Music by Akihiro Komori

You probably all know the classic children’s hand-play song “Ito Maki.” It’s a song and hand game that even little kids can enjoy.

It’s an old-fashioned game that expresses the winding motion of thread with a fun song and gestures.

Of course, you can try the standard lyrics and movements, but it’s also fun to play around by deliberately repeating parts of the lyrics several times or, conversely, leaving some out.

Enjoy connecting with your children and friends in all kinds of ways!

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Hana-chan, the applechildren’s song

[Warabe-uta] Hana-chan, the Apple

Hana-chan, an apple nursery rhyme

This song is a very cute traditional children’s tune for enjoying close interaction with a baby.

You sing while gently touching parts of the face, making it perfect for skin-to-skin bonding.

The repeated rhythm of the short lyrics feels pleasant, and it’s appealing because even infants from newborn age can enjoy it.

It’s especially recommended for babies around 4–5 months old, and it’s said to have a positive effect on language development.

If you change the baby’s name in the lyrics, it feels even more personal.

It’s also nice to sing it during the autumn apple season.

It’s a warm, friendly song that not only nursery and kindergarten teachers can enjoy, but also parents and children together.

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[Parenting] Bond with your child! A collection of hand-play songs and traditional children's rhymes (11–20)

Mr. Raccoon Dog of Genkotsu MountainLyrics: Yoshiko Kayama / Music: Akihiro Komori

Kids Song | Genkotsuyama no Tanuki-san | Nursery Rhyme | Children's Song | Red Cat Reading

Tanuki on Genkotsu Mountain Lyrics: Yoshiko Kayama / Music: Akihiro Komori

Let’s enjoy a classic children’s song-and-game with family and friends.

“Genkotsuyama no Tanuki-san” is a traditional nursery rhyme that many of us heard and sang at least once in childhood.

Try singing and dancing along to this long-loved, standard hand-play song with your child.

The lyrics and gestures follow the story of the nursery rhyme and are easy for even small children to understand.

It’s a delightful imitation game passed down through the ages.

Why not play together while spending quality, hands-on time as a family?

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otebushitebushichildren’s song

[Warabe-uta] Otebushi Tebushi

Otebushi Tebushi Warabe Uta

This is the traditional children’s song “Otebushi Tebushi,” which you can enjoy as a simple game.

Hold a marble-sized ball cupped in both hands and sway your hands from side to side in time with the song.

At the final chant, hide the ball by closing it in either your left or right hand.

Have the child guess which hand the ball is in.

Quickly hiding the ball in your hand is easy for adults, but it might be a bit difficult for children.

Until around age three, it may be best for an adult to sing and play along with the child.

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all over each other; stuck together; clingyKeropons

Keropons' “Ebi-Kanics” and “Hittsuki Mottsuki”

Hittsuki Mottsuki Keropons

Hittsuki Mottsuki is a song performed by Keropons, a music duo that delivers songs and exercises for children.

The song’s theme is a word from the Hiroshima dialect that means sticking together and not coming apart.

A bright melody rings out over a lively ukulele accompaniment.

Starting with choreography where you spread your fingers wide and move your hands side to side, you can enjoy a unique movement where your heads end up stuck together.

The trick is to really show the expression of being stuck! Why not try sticking not only your heads but also your hands, backs, and other parts of the body and play together?

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Fukusuke-sanchildren’s song

Nursery rhyme play: Mr. Fukusuke

Fukusuke-san children's song

This is the children’s song “Fukusuke-san,” a play-song using the toes.

As you sing, you pinch and stretch each toe one by one.

The song is about beans getting burnt, so please stir them quickly.

The lyrics include some dialect, so they’re a bit tricky, but since you tickle at the end of the song, your child will surely enjoy it.

This play-song also serves as a toe massage, so doing it after lots of play might feel good and make them happy.

It’s also recommended as a baby massage for infants.

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