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

Tickle Tickle Train

Do you know the song “Kochokochō Densha” (Tickle-Tickle Train), which is great for baby massage? While gently touching your child’s tummy, move your hands up and down.

For the part that goes “This way? That way?”, move your child’s arms slightly to the left and right.

The key moment is at the terminal station.

Gently tickle your child’s tummy and sides.

It might bring out a big smile! At the terminal station, it’s recommended to change the spot—like the feet, cheeks, or back—depending on which way your child’s body is facing at the time.

Forehead, nose, mouth

Forehead, nose, mouth – Mama Lima original version

Starting from the face—the forehead, nose, and mouth—this is a baby massage song that turns the whole body into lyrics.

While singing, gently touch your baby as if you’re telling them, “This is your forehead,” “This is your nose.” You can enjoy the baby’s adorable changes in expression while giving gentle stimulation to the whole body.

If you occasionally change the tempo, you might be rewarded with an irresistibly cute smile.

Repeating it many times will help you learn which touches your baby enjoys the most.

Squeezing rice balls

Squeezing rice balls

While matching the phrase “onigiri nigiri, nigirinco,” sway your hands left and right and gently squeeze your arms as you give a massage.

In the second verse, the lyrics change to “hokarinco,” so touch your own cheeks or mom’s cheeks to feel their warmth.

In the third verse, the lyrics change to “kororinco,” and you roll your body from side to side like turning over.

These varied stimuli can help promote sensory development, but if the baby’s neck is not yet stable, proceed with caution and do not push it.

somen (thin Japanese wheat noodles)

[Baby 👶 Delighted] “Somen (cold noodles)” Summer bonding play 💓 0-year-olds 😻 So fun! They laugh 😽 ♪ Let’s enjoy playing with baby! [Parent-child, nursery, kindergarten] Stops crying

This is a baby massage song performed by stroking the body in time with the lyrics “Somen somen tsuru-tsuru.” By varying the sensations—like flowing somen, three-color somen, poured-over somen, and chilled somen—you’ll likely bring out your baby’s smiles.

Because there are no big movements and it involves gentle strokes while the baby lies down, it can be done safely from the newborn stage.

By adjusting the intensity of stimulation, toddlers can enjoy it too.

Look closely at your child’s face and touch them gently.

Vegetable Song

Vegetable Song (interactive play) Nen-ne [sleep time], ages 0 and up

It incorporates cooking motions—like “kyukyu” for cucumbers and “ton-ton” for tomatoes—touches on smells with Chinese cabbage by saying “It smells stinky,” and plays with changing sounds for grapes with “booboo-boo,” offering lots of stimulating elements.

It will be interesting to see how your child reacts.

Since many vegetable and fruit names appear, it’s also recommended as an introduction to food education for children.

By repeating it, your child may find a favorite phrase, such as “ton-ton-ton.”

La-la-la daikon

“La-La-La Daikon” hand-play song

Let’s pretend your baby is a daikon radish and play together.

There are two versions—grated daikon and dried shredded daikon—so you can enjoy it in two different ways.

Lay your baby on their back, sit by their feet, and interact as if you’re cooking: gently stroke and pat the baby, like you’re preparing ingredients.

The bright melody and quirky lyrics are amusing, making it a fun activity that brings smiles not only to babies but also to adults.

It’s suitable even for babies in the lying-down stage, so give it a try.

nursery rhyme massage

Babies“R”Us – Nursery Rhyme Baby Massage Trial Session

The nursery rhyme famous for “Ippon-bashi ko-cho ko-cho.” It’s a traditional baby massage song where you trace the sole of the foot with your finger and give various sensations—tickling, tapping, pinching, and more.

Since most people know it, you should be able to do it with ease.

At the very end, after “climbing the stairs…,” the tickle is sure to make your baby giggle.

It’s a way to connect with your baby and nurture your bond, and to pass down an old song and preserve our culture.

Please give this song a try and enjoy both.