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 (31–40)

Get on the busLyrics and Music: Kunihiro Taniguchi

[With Choreography] Riding the Bus / Okaasan to Issho | Working Vehicles Animation | Daisuke Yokoyama, Takumi Mitani

Lyrics and music by Kunihiro Taniguchi on the bus

Kunihiro Taniguchi’s rhythmic children’s song is brimming with charm, inviting listeners to vividly imagine the fun of riding in vehicles.

Set to a gently swaying melody, it’s a piece that lets you express with your whole body the bus’s rocking motion and the thrill of turning.

Released in May 2008 and later included in the September 2020 album “Teacher Ti’s Kids Love It! Play Songs,” the track has also been featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” and is frequently sung at nursery school and kindergarten events.

As a hand-play song that children can enjoy together, it’s a perfect choice for family bonding time and making memories.

Raise the rankinglower

PicnicTakashi Deguchi

[Finger Play] "Picnic" [Takashi's Hand Play & Children's Songs] Japanese Children’s Song, Finger Play Songs

Takashi, Picnic Exit

A song that gently portrays the fun of a picnic in a meadow and warm interactions with flowers and insects, highlighted by Takashi Deguchi’s uniquely soothing vocals.

Released on an album in November 2022, it was also featured on a children’s educational TV program.

Perfect as a fingerplay song for singing and dancing with kids—ideal for activities at daycare and kindergarten, as well as family bonding time.

Since numbers appear in the lyrics, it’s also great for practicing counting!

Raise the rankinglower

tea pickingMinistry of Culture School Song

♪ Tea Picking – The 88th Night, with summer drawing near ♪ (with gestures) [Hand play • Japanese song • Shoka]

Tea-Picking Ministry Hymn

Published in 1912 (the 45th year of the Meiji era), this piece is a song that conveys Japan’s cherished traditional culture and the beauty of nature.

It gently depicts the early-summer scenery that arrives around the 88th night of spring and the scenes of tea picking, featuring a light, approachable melody.

Its rhythmical lyrics, aligned with the motions of tea picking, also carry elements of a work song.

In 2007, it was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs” by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the National PTA Council of Japan, and it has been featured in various contexts such as children’s songs, anime, and TV dramas.

While tea picking may not be very familiar to people today, why not enjoy it with your children as an opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture?

Raise the rankinglower

Song of a little birdLyrics by Junichi Yoda / Music by Yasushi Akutagawa

♪ Little Bird Song (with hand motions)

Kotori no Uta Lyrics: Junichi Yoda / Music: Yasushi Akutagawa

This charming children’s song features a bright, light melody and adorable onomatopoeia that evokes birds chirping.

Depicting a little bird gently calling for its mother and father, it was released in 1954, and its tender lyrics expressing love for parents have warmed hearts across generations.

Many people likely sang it in nursery school or kindergarten when they were young.

In educational settings, it is often sung during May’s Bird Week.

It’s a perfect song for families to enjoy together with hand-play actions.

Raise the rankinglower

One, two, three, four, two, five

One, two, three, four, two, five

One, two, three, four, two, five

This traditional children’s song, beloved across generations, features a simple way to play: sing rhythmic number phrases while raising and bending your fingers.

It has been featured on NHK’s children’s program Nihongo de Asobo and is popular on video-sharing sites.

The piece has been carried forward in new forms by contemporary artists such as dmg’s “Ichi Ni San Shi” and Gen Hoshino’s “Ichi Ni San.” It’s a fun song you can enjoy with parents or friends while nurturing finger dexterity and a sense of rhythm.

Raise the rankinglower

[Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional children's rhymes collection (41–50)

oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)

[Children's Song] Oshikura Manju

oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)

This song is charming for its friendly melody and playful lyrics that use the image of manju buns.

Born from the wisdom of keeping warm, it has been passed down across generations as a game that shares warmth and smiles.

Beyond its value as a play song, it is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, even appearing in haiku as a winter season word.

On a cold winter day, if you sing it while actually doing oshikura manju—huddling and gently pushing each other—children will surely feel not only the warmth of skin, but also the joy of time spent with friends and family.

Raise the rankinglower

Abuku-tatta

https://www.tiktok.com/@rittle0601/video/7295691233664437511

When you do baby massage to the rhythm of the “Abukutatta Nietatta” song, your little one will show such a happy expression.

While singing, gently hold your child’s legs and move them, watching how they respond left, right, up, and down.

When moving the legs, don’t shake them strongly—move them gently and slowly.

For the “munch munch munch” part, lightly touch their tummy with a motion like you’re pretend-eating it; your child will love it.

For older babies, it’s also fun to pick up the pace a bit!

Raise the rankinglower