Lovely childcare

[For 0-year-olds] Recommended songs for babies: A special feature on bonding play and traditional nursery rhymes

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
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 teacherShibata Risa
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.

Music has a mysterious power: when you sing, a baby may suddenly stop crying, drift off to sleep, or show you a lovely smile.

It’s said that listening to music from a young age can boost concentration and support language development.

Let’s incorporate plenty of soothing music into daily life for your baby and actively stimulate their five senses.

This time, we’ll introduce recommended songs, interactive play, and traditional nursery rhymes for 0-year-olds.

We’ve gathered many warm and cheerful songs.

Gaze into your baby’s eyes, show hand and mouth movements, and gently touch their body as you enjoy the music together.

[Age 0] Recommended songs for babies: A special feature on interactive play and traditional nursery rhymes (21–30)

apple, mandarin orange, bananaSakushi / Sakkyoku: Tanaka Seiji

Apple, Mandarin, Banana (Kids' Song Cover)

apple, mandarin orange, bananaSakushi / Sakkyoku: Tanaka Seiji

This is a fun song with a fruit-themed, lively tune and a rhythmic melody.

It invites playful activities with children—clapping hands, swaying bodies, and pretending to eat fruit along with the song.

Sung by Kentaro Hayami and Ayumi Shigemori, it was broadcast on “Okaasan to Issho” starting in 1994 and was also included on the VHS “Super Hit 16.” It’s perfect not only for family bonding time at home but also for group fun in early childhood settings.

Enjoy playing with children while helping them learn the names of different fruits.

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[Gymnastics] Animal Exercises

Tried dancing the Animal Exercise! [Dance] [1-year-olds] [Infants] [Daycare]

[Gymnastics] Animal Exercises

“Animal Exercises” is a routine where you act out various movements to match the animals mentioned in the lyrics.

For one-year-olds and younger, simply clapping along with the music or gently swaying their bodies is more than enough to express it adorably.

The key for teachers is to demonstrate with big, easy-to-see motions.

Watching the children imitate in their own way will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

To help everyone get used to the song and flow, it could be a good idea to make it part of the daily routine as practice.

The sight of little ones doing these cute exercises is a must-see!

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Lalalala Cleaning Cloth

Rarara Cleaning Rag (The Cleaning Rag Song) [JCCRA]

Lalalala Cleaning Cloth

“La La La Zokin” is a gentle baby massage you can do with baby-touch movements set to a song.

Pretending your little one is a cleaning cloth (zokin), you ‘sew’ it, wring it out, and hang it to dry—just like in the lyrics.

In time with the song, you can lightly poke your baby’s body, wiggle their arms and legs, and pat with your palms.

It’s great to try when they’re a bit fussy; it can help them settle down.

Perfect for a tender bonding time between parent and child!

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Vegetable Song

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

Vegetable Song

It’s full of rich sensory elements: incorporating cooking motions like “kyu-kyu” for cucumbers and “ton-ton” for tomatoes, touching on smells with Chinese cabbage as “kusai kusaaai” (“so smelly”), and playing with sounds by changing “buu-buu-buu” for grapes.

It’ll be interesting to see how your child responds.

Since it features many names of vegetables and fruits, it’s also recommended as an introduction to food education.

By repeating it, your child might discover favorite phrases like “ton-ton-ton,” and more.

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Lullaby

Cradle Song [With Vocals] Children's Song / Lullaby

Lullaby

Since its birth in the Taisho era as a lullaby, it has been beloved up to the present day.

In recent years, singer Rimi Natsukawa covered it, bringing it back into the spotlight.

Its soothing and calming melody makes it perfect for holding your baby and gently patting their back to the rhythm of the music.

Listening to this song while feeling the warmth and comfort of being held will surely make your baby feel happy.

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