Abstract
This study examined the characteristics of children's performance of "te-asobi" a game which combines singing, hand play, and body movements. One- to 5-year old children (N=112) played a "te-asobi" game to a Japanese traditional nursery rhyme, "Genkotsuyamano-Tanukisan". The children's performances were analyzed according to six categories : (1) reproduction, (2) sequence, (3) rhythm, (4) wordings, (5) facial expression, and (6) posture. Age differences appeared in reproduction, sequence, and rhythm. The ability to reproduce a movement at age 5 was quite different that age 2. Sequencing ability between age 1 and 3, but this development ceased between ages 3 and 5. Synchronizing to rhythms became better between 2 to 3 years of age. Other dominant aspects of developmental change were discussed in the development of children's innate cooperation system and the growing psychological influence of social contexts.
