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[Childcare] Fun Songs for 2-Year-Olds to Sing! Recommended Song Collection
When children turn two, they become interested in many different songs, learn them quickly, and sing lots of them.It’s an age when they can really feel how fun it is to sing.This time, we’ve gathered many recommended songs for two-year-olds.We’ve included seasonal songs and hand-play songs, so please try to find a favorite that your children will love.Once they know a variety of songs, they might start requesting, “I want to sing that one!”Singing time will become much more enjoyable!
[Childcare] Fun songs for 2-year-olds to sing! Recommended song collection (1–10)
A-I-U-E-O nigirisakushi sakkyoku/shuu saeko
This song features a lovely melody and heartwarming lyrics centered on the theme of rice balls (onigiri).
Broadcast in April 2001 as the Monthly Song on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” Shū Saeko’s piece has continued to be cherished by many since its airing.
In early childhood settings, it’s perfect as an introduction to food education activities.
It’s a song you can enjoy in many ways with children—singing together while naming fillings, adding hand-play motions, and more.
Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
Many of you have probably heard this song about riding on a large bus.
“Bus Pretend Play” is a fun tune with a bouncy rhythm.
Because it includes actions like touching the child next to you and looking to the side or up, children can enjoy copying the teacher’s movements.
It’s perfect for two-year-olds who are getting used to music and getting better at imitation.
When the teacher sings with enthusiasm, the children will happily join in.
You’ll find yourself charmed by their adorable actions.
strollSakushi: Nakagawa Rieko / Sakkyoku: Hisaishi Joe
The opening song of the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro, “Sanpo,” features lyrics written by Rieko Nakagawa, author of the picture book Guri and Gura.
This song, perfect for energetic children, seems to overlap with the image of two-year-olds whose abilities and desires are rapidly growing.
Singing it during morning circle time could be a great way to start the day full of energy.
It’s also fun to sing while going for a walk! It’s sure to become one of the children’s favorite songs.
Mr. Ant on an errandsakushi: Sekine Eiichi / sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
“Otsukai Ari-san” is a delightful song featuring a playful scene where two little ants bump into each other with a “gottsun.” The bouncy accompaniment mimics the ants’ walking, and children are sure to sing along with sparkling eyes.
It’s also adorable to have them pretend to walk like ants, as in eurhythmics! If you depict the moment the ants collide using a sketchbook theater or paper puppets, children can sing with richer imagery, so it’s highly recommended.
It can also be enjoyed as an introduction to teach that bumping into friends can hurt.
Gluttonous GhostSakushi: Murata Sachiko / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako
This is a fun, humor-filled song that depicts a ghost peeking into the refrigerator in the middle of the night.
Its lyrics incorporate food shapes in a quiz-style format, and the bright, rhythmic melody is memorable.
Created by Sachiko Murata and Wakako Fukuda, the piece was also broadcast on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” and is beloved by many children.
It’s a great song to sing with two-year-olds while imitating the ghost’s gestures, moving your body, and using your hands to show different food shapes.
It can also be used as a sketchbook theater activity in nursery schools and kindergartens.
Kera Kera Rock-Paper-Scissorskerakera
As a way to break the ice with children who are excited and a little nervous about the new environment during entrance ceremonies or class promotions, how about Kerakera’s “Kerakera Janken”? This song uses the universally known game of rock-paper-scissors as its motif and is a simple play-along tune where you just throw rock, scissors, or paper to the rhythm.
It’s a single released in October 2014 by the unit known for the theme song of the drama “Last Cinderella,” and it was later included on the album “Kerakeraland.” The music video also drew attention for featuring Nozomi Tsuji.
If you move your body in time with the shout-along lyrics, smiles are sure to follow.
Get the parents involved too, and try it as a recreational activity to get the whole venue buzzing.
Caro’s eyeballNEW!warabeuta
In dazzlingly green May, you can hear frogs calling from the rice paddies, can’t you? The perfect season to play this children’s song, whose rhythmic chants are such fun.
Its startling theme is cauterizing a frog’s eyeballs with moxa, but set to a lively beat it somehow turns into a delightfully playful song! Some say the sound of the words in the latter half may be connected to a song that was popular in the Meiji era.
It’s interesting to sing it while feeling a bit of history.
How to play is up to you—become a frog and jump, sit on an adult’s knee and bounce, and more.
Even on rainy days, moving your body indoors will lift your spirits! Imagine the frogs hopping, and raise your voices together as a parent and child to get excited.
Five melon breads at the bakery.Sakushi: Nakagawa Hirotaka / Sakkyoku: Igirisu dōyō
Shall we sing a fun fingerplay song themed around a bakery’s melon bread together with the children? It’s an adaptation of a traditional English nursery rhyme, arranged to be familiar and appealing to Japanese kids.
The fingerplay involves counting with fingers in time with lyrics that show the bread being sold, nurturing children’s imagination.
It’s often used in early childhood settings, and this work—through which you can enjoy playful counting with children via song—is sure to be a big hit both at home and in nursery or kindergarten!
Cute Hide and SeekSakushi: Satou Hachirou／Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao
It’s an irresistibly cute song that captures children’s hearts.
The way the animals play hide-and-seek is depicted as if you can see it right before your eyes.
The chicks, sparrows, and puppies trying their best to hide will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Coupled with a lively rhythm and melody, it seems perfect for singing and having fun with children.
The content is easy for two-year-olds to understand, so you can expand play by learning animal characteristics while singing or actually playing hide-and-seek.
It’s a wonderful song that nurtures imagination and observation skills while having fun.
The Bento Box SongSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko/Shokyoku: Komori Akihiro
The nostalgic hand-play song “Obentōbako no Uta” is hugely popular with kids in the Reiwa era too! Even if children eat school lunches at daycare or kindergarten, the word “obento” creates a sense of excitement.
It’s fun to sing as is, but you can make it even more enjoyable with ideas like suggesting, “Let’s make a big elephant’s lunchbox next!” and using big gestures, or saying, “Let’s make an ant’s lunchbox,” and making your voice and gestures small.
Once the lunchbox is ready, it’s nice to have everyone say “Itadakimasu” together and pretend to eat!