Children’s Songs You Can Sing in August: Summer-Friendly Kids’ Songs and Fingerplay Rhymes

Here are nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs for August that you can sing and enjoy! We’ve got a full lineup: songs that capture the fun of summer, tunes about tasty foods you’ll crave in the heat, and songs perfect for August events.

We also introduce tracks you can enjoy with fingerplays and dances, so try using them for indoor play during the sweltering summer or for activities in childcare settings.

Many are classic summer songs that have been passed down for generations, making them perfect for family time at home as well.

Teach children summer songs and enjoy a delightful time together while reminiscing about the past!

Playlist

Children’s Songs You Can Sing in August: Summer-Friendly Kids’ Songs and Fingerplay Rhymes
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	There’s no such thing as ghosts.Sakushi: Maki Minori / Sakkyoku: Mine Akira		Afraid of ghosts, yet wanting to meet them—the heart of a child
2	swim goggles		A hand-play song about searching for sea creatures with 'binocular hands'
3	We are little pirates!hiromichi & tanizou		A children’s song for adventuring while pretending to be pirates
4	Whale BusSakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Shibuya Tsuyoshi		A story about sea creatures heading to Antarctica by bus
5	Ice Cream SongSakushi: Satou Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Hattori Kouichi		Ice cream is a classic summer treat.
6	Creepy-Crawly Sports DaySakushi sakkyoku: Koharu (Charan Po Rantan)		Sports Day of the Aquarium Creatures
7	Go! Go! Pooltakeru-kun & mei-chan & takemei papa		A summer memory video that sings about the fun and learning of playing in the pool
8	Jiggly Wiggly Pool ExercisesKeroponzu+Fujimoto Tomohiko		A fun warm-up song for dancing in the pool
9	Swirling Sunflowersakushi sakkyoku: boku to kimi		Bring out children's smiles with a sunflower hand-play song
10	Squid squid dolphinSakushi: Shimoyama Kei / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		A wordplay song about dolphins and squids
11	water playSakushi: Azuma Kume / Sakkyoku: Taki Rentaro		A short, catchy summer song that captures the fun of playing in the water.
12	Ms. HimawariSakushi: Koharu Kyuichiro / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao		A classic childcare song that portrays the joys of summer from a child’s innocent perspective.
13	La-la-la! Tropicarnival!gaagaaS		A cheerful kids’ exercise song with a tropical carnival vibe
14	Kaikaizokuzoku Pirate SongBonbon Akademī × Yokoyama Daisuke		A children's song for adventuring while pretending to be pirates
15	King Kamehameha of the Southern Islandssakushi: itō akira / sakkyoku: morita kōichi		Introduction of the King Kamehameha of the Southern Islands
16	Crunchy shaved icesakushi sakkyoku: boku to kimi		A fun song about shaved ice
17	Fruit punch!gaagaaS		An energetic dance song with a summer fruit theme
18	Mambo Jimbetatsu!Sakushi sakkyoku: Beppu Nodoka		A fun children's song featuring sea creatures
19	It’s summer—time for the pool!Sakushi • Sakkyoku: Abe Naomi		A fun play song where you pretend to be water creatures
20	Whale ClockSakushi: Seki Kazuo / Sakkyoku: Shibuya Takeshi		A nursery rhyme where a whale answers “nine o’clock.”
21	Summer Song		A hand-play song in which children cheerfully sing about the joys of summer.
22	echo gameSakushi: Ouchi Yasuyuki / Sakkyoku: Wakatsuki Akito		A delightful nursery rhyme that sings like an echo in the mountains
23	coconutSakushi: Shimazaki Tōson / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Toraji		Introduction to an old children's song sung by Rimi Natsukawa
24	A tadpole is a frog’s child.Sakushi: Taniguchi Kunihiro / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka		Summer, the season when tadpoles become frogs
25	The frog’s fluteSakushi: Saitō Nobuo / Sakkyoku: Kainuma Minoru		The croaking of frogs embodies Japanese sentiment.
26	We are children of the sea.Monbushō shōka		Children of the sea are characterized by their strength.
27	Somen, nyumen, chilled somen		Introduction to a hand-clapping song using somen noodles
28	One, two, three		Jump over creatures with a good tempo and dance!
29	Swim! Taiyaki-kunShimon Masato		An adventure story about a taiyaki escaping to the sea
30	To the Sun in the Palm of Your Hand		A beloved classic for children that depicts the vigor of life
31	Ebi-Kanix Bon DanceKeroponzu		A song in which Keropons arranged “Ebi Kanics” for Bon Odori dancing
32	Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba		Nursery rhymes with cheerful lyrics and bittersweet melodies are popular among adults
33	sunflowerSakushi: Kadokura Satoshi / Sakkyoku: Sasaki Nobutsuna		A work that sings about a sunflower’s day and night.
34	Summer MemoriesSakushi: Ema Akiko / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao		A postwar song of hope by a Shōwa-era lyricist and composer
35	The Goldfish’s Nap		Goldfish Nap, a soothing song popular with children
36	Spotted garden eel!!Ryūzō Fukuda · Kazuto Ozawa		Exercise song of creatures popping their heads out from the sea sand
37	The Curry Rice SongSakushi: Tomorogi Yukio / Sakkyoku: Mine Akira		Cooking as a parent and child with the Curry Rice Song
38	Row the boat		Have fun with the summer hand-play song 'Ofune wo Koide' (Row the Boat)
39	ice cream		Enjoy food education with an ice cream finger play!
40	Oh, oops.Sakushi: Sakata Hiroo / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira		A summer children's song, with a fun, rap-like rhythm
41	Mitsuya Cider		Introduction to the Mitsuya Cider hand-clapping song
42	Yah-ho-ho! Summer vacation!sakushi: itou akira / sakkyoku: kobayashi asei		Introduction to a children's song that sings about the fun of summer vacation
43	Banana Parent and ChildSakushi: Seki Kazuo / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Kazuha		The song “Banana” is a popular track that suits summer.
44	Crunchy shaved ice		A hand-play song about shaved ice. It used to be manual, but now electric models are mainstream and convenient.
45	fireworkssakushi: inoue takeru / sakkyoku: shimousa kanichi		A well-loved children's song themed around fireworks
46	Glide, glide, glide through the sea.		A parent-child song for joyfully learning about sea creatures
47	Groovy Wakamehiromichi & tanizou		Parents and children have fun moving their bodies with the wakame dance.
48	Sea MarchKeroponzu Puppeezu		A fun play song where you energetically dance with sea creatures
49	Hyokkori Hyoutan-jimaLyrics: Hisashi Inoue / Morihisa Yamamoto ・ Music: Seiichirō Uno		A masterpiece theme song from a puppet show that sings of the bonds of friendship.
50	Let’s invite that girl and go to the beach.Sakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		A song that expands a child’s imagination as they adventure across the sea
51	Fish HeavenShibaya Hiromi		A song that features 31 types of seafood to promote fish consumption
52	Vegetable Song		A children’s song with a vegetable theme
53	When the Dock (Japanese knotweed) blooms		When the sorrel blooms, a cheerful spring nursery rhyme
54	Water Gun Song		Let's enjoy summer with water-play hand-clapping songs
55	Let’s go to the forest.		A healing song that lets you feel the nature of the forest
56	Morning on the Ranch		A morning scene poem depicting a ranch in Fukushima
57	A quiet lakeside		A quiet lakeside, a song popular among children
58	wind chime		Children enjoying summer with a wind chime nursery rhyme
59	Hey! SeaSakushi: Yamakawa Keisuke / Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naosumi		A lively song that feels like the summer sea
60	Let’s dance, Ondo!		A bon odori song everyone can enjoy, adding color to the summer festival
61	Tanuki Lord’s Ondo		Fun summer memories with the Tanuki Ondo
62	Oh, the ranch is green.		Let's move our bodies to the rhythm!
63	Story Finger		Kids are captivated! The fun of fingerplay
64	The fish jumps.		A fun hand game where fish jump and stick together
65	Potato Jaguar		Potato Jaguar is a song popular with children.
66	Happy Children		Fun warm-up exercises at Happy Children
67	your smile		Let's spread smiles with a lively song!
68	Zebra Swirl		Zebra Round and Round, a Fun Rhythm Song
69	Norimaki Pera Pari Ondo		Summer Festival with the Fun 'Norimaki Perapari Ondo'
70	Yokai Shiritori		Enjoying with kids through a yokai shiritori song
71	Ganbarappa☆Ganbarūn		An upbeat, positive song to enjoy the summer
72	Sticky Samba		Enjoy food education and music with the Sticky Samba
73	Picnic		A rhythmic song that enjoys the sounds of animals
74	Yaho-ho		Let's have fun with kids by yodeling!
75	Thunder God has arrived.		Thunder Lord hand play song
76	watermelon splitting		A song that cheerfully sings about watermelon splitting
77	bug-catching game		A nostalgic bug-catching song that takes you back to your childhood
78	tea pickingdōyō		Hachijūhachi-ya is the 88th day from the start of spring (Risshun) and marks the beginning of summer.
79	butterflied sardine(s)		Engage children's interest with a fish hand-play song
80	Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star		Enjoy stargazing during Star Week
81	Watermelon-producing region		A child smiles to a summer watermelon song
82	Slurping somen noodles		Enjoying summer with a somen hand-play song
83	Toiretsha March		August 10th is Toilet Day. A toilet-training song for toddlers.
84	It’s summer—time for the pool!sakushi sakkyoku/ Abe Naomi		Summer fun at the pool. A fun song for children.
85	Hū-lala hoaloha lā~Sakushi sakkyoku: Ishikawa Yumi		A fun tropical beach song featuring sea creatures
86	Song of the cicadasakushi: satou yoshimi / sakkyoku: nakata yoshinao		Search by following the sound of cicadas
87	Dolphins are Zambracosakushi: Azuma Tatsuo / sakkyoku: Wakamatsu Masashi		A fun waltz featuring dolphins and animals
88	Song of the SeashoreSakushi: Hayashi Kokei / Sakkyoku: Narita Tamezō		A nostalgic piece depicting seascapes from the Taishō era
89	seaSakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi		The children’s song “Umi” is a triple-meter piece that evokes the image of waves.
90	The ghost has come.Sakushi: Aramaki Shake		A nursery rhyme that depicts a ghost with hand play
91	Goldfish’s NapSakushi: Kashima Naruaki / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryūtarō		A 1919 children's song about goldfish
92	Mount FujiMonbushō shōka		Mountain Day is famous for songs that feature Mount Fuji as their theme.
93	It’s starting! (Summer ver.)		Enjoy arranging hand-clapping songs into summer traditions
94	Camp da Hoi		A children's song about the joys of camping
95	paprikaYonezu Kenshi		Paprika is a cheer song composed by Kenshi Yonezu.
96	waves and seashellsSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao		The shapes and colors of the shells were formed by waves and light.
97	straw hatSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Satō Makoto		A heat-loving cicada escapes from the straw-hat tree.
98	Shiritori SongSakushi: Yokobue Tarō / Sakkyoku: Kanenaga Shirō		Have fun learning with a summer shiritori song
99	The Banana That Flew Awaysakushi: kataoka akira/sakkyoku: sakurai jun		Introduction to the nursery rhyme 'Banana' with Latin rhythm
100	tomatoSakushi: Shōji Takeshi／Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumi		Introduce the fun of palindromes using the classic summer vegetable, the tomato
101	Elephant’s hatSakushi: Endo Kozo / Sakkyoku: Nakamura Hiroaki		Summer hats, August 10 is Hat Day
102	Beyond the rainbowSakushi Sakkyoku: Sakata Osamu		Introduction to Beyond the Rainbow
103	Yokai Shiritorisakushi: okuhara yume/sakkyoku: tane tomoko		A cute song about playing yokai shiritori
104	Penguin-chanSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao		A cool summer song starring a penguin
105	Seagull SailorSakushi: Takeuchi Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Kawamura Mitsuyo		A nursery rhyme that likens seagulls to sailors