Objective: This study focuses on Korean infant word-play, directed primarily at children under 12–15 months of age, as not merely play but a linguistic practice embodying the caregiver's nurturing care and their wish for the child's healthy growth. Accordingly, it examines what significance the physical move-ments accompanying Korean infant word-play hold for infants' physical development and healthy growth.
Materials and Methods: The traditional Korean infant word-plays "Joeamjoeam," "Gonjigonji," "Jjakj-jakkung," "Gondugondu," "Seommaseomma," "Burabura," and "Doridori" are forms of play that combine brief vocalizations with physical movements, characterized by the caregiver naturally eliciting the child's movements. This study classified these word-plays into hand movements, lower-body movements, and neck movements, and examined their medical and traditional Korean medical (Korean medicine) significance.
Results: Hand-movement word-plays were associated with fine motor development, tactile stimulation of the hands, and hand-eye coordination. Lower-body-movement word-plays were linked to lower-limb muscle strength, balance, the experience of uprightness, and preparation for walking. Neck-movement word-plays were related to use of the neck muscles, head control, craniocervical movement, and stabili-zation of the vocal organs. From the perspective of Korean medicine, these can be interpreted in terms of stimulation of major acupoints—including Laogong (PC8), Yongquan (KI1), Kunlun (BL60), and the densely clustered acupoints of the posterior neck region—and the circulation of qi and blood.
Conclusion: Korean word-play for infants can therefore be understood not simply as playful language but as a practice of nurturing care that supports and wishes for infants' physical development and healthy growth. This study is significant in illuminating the health-oriented character embedded in traditional infant word-play and the value of Korea's traditional childrearing culture.