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	Ice Cream SongSakushi: Satou Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Hattori Kouichi		Ice cream is a classic summer treat.
4	Squid squid dolphinSakushi: Shimoyama Kei / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		A wordplay song about dolphins and squids
5	Swirling Sunflowersakushi sakkyoku: boku to kimi		Bring out children's smiles with a sunflower hand-play song
6	Whale BusSakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Shibuya Tsuyoshi		A story about sea creatures heading to Antarctica by bus
7	We are little pirates!hiromichi & tanizou		A children’s song for adventuring while pretending to be pirates
8	Crunchy shaved icesakushi sakkyoku: boku to kimi		A fun song about shaved ice
9	Go! Go! Pooltakeru-kun & mei-chan & takemei papa		A summer memory video that sings about the fun and learning of playing in the pool
10	water playSakushi: Azuma Kume / Sakkyoku: Taki Rentaro		A short, catchy summer song that captures the fun of playing in the water.
11	Jiggly Wiggly Pool ExercisesKeroponzu+Fujimoto Tomohiko		A fun warm-up song for dancing in the pool
12	Creepy-Crawly Sports DaySakushi sakkyoku: Koharu (Charan Po Rantan)		Sports Day of the Aquarium Creatures
13	King Kamehameha of the Southern Islandssakushi: itō akira / sakkyoku: morita kōichi		Introduction of the King Kamehameha of the Southern Islands
14	Fruit punch!gaagaaS		An energetic dance song with a summer fruit theme
15	La-la-la! Tropicarnival!gaagaaS		A cheerful kids’ exercise song with a tropical carnival vibe
16	It’s summer—time for the pool!Sakushi • Sakkyoku: Abe Naomi		A fun play song where you pretend to be water creatures
17	Ms. HimawariSakushi: Koharu Kyuichiro / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao		A classic childcare song that portrays the joys of summer from a child’s innocent perspective.
18	Summer Song		A hand-play song in which children cheerfully sing about the joys of summer.
19	Kaikaizokuzoku Pirate SongBonbon Akademī × Yokoyama Daisuke		A children's song for adventuring while pretending to be pirates
20	Mambo Jimbetatsu!Sakushi sakkyoku: Beppu Nodoka		A fun children's song featuring sea creatures
21	Whale ClockSakushi: Seki Kazuo / Sakkyoku: Shibuya Takeshi		A nursery rhyme where a whale answers “nine o’clock.”
22	coconutSakushi: Shimazaki Tōson / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Toraji		Introduction to an old children's song sung by Rimi Natsukawa
23	A tadpole is a frog’s child.Sakushi: Taniguchi Kunihiro / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka		Summer, the season when tadpoles become frogs
24	echo gameSakushi: Ouchi Yasuyuki / Sakkyoku: Wakatsuki Akito		A delightful nursery rhyme that sings like an echo in the mountains
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	Ebi-Kanix Bon DanceKeroponzu		A song in which Keropons arranged “Ebi Kanics” for Bon Odori dancing
30	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
31	Oh, oops.Sakushi: Sakata Hiroo / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira		A summer children's song, with a fun, rap-like rhythm
32	To the Sun in the Palm of Your Hand		A beloved classic for children that depicts the vigor of life
33	sunflowerSakushi: Kadokura Satoshi / Sakkyoku: Sasaki Nobutsuna		A work that sings about a sunflower’s day and night.
34	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
35	Banana Parent and ChildSakushi: Seki Kazuo / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Kazuha		The song “Banana” is a popular track that suits summer.
36	Summer MemoriesSakushi: Ema Akiko / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao		A postwar song of hope by a Shōwa-era lyricist and composer
37	fireworkssakushi: inoue takeru / sakkyoku: shimousa kanichi		A well-loved children's song themed around fireworks
38	The Curry Rice SongSakushi: Tomorogi Yukio / Sakkyoku: Mine Akira		Cooking as a parent and child with the Curry Rice Song
39	Mitsuya Cider		Introduction to the Mitsuya Cider hand-clapping song
40	Crunchy shaved ice		A hand-play song about shaved ice. It used to be manual, but now electric models are mainstream and convenient.
41	Row the boat		Have fun with the summer hand-play song 'Ofune wo Koide' (Row the Boat)
42	The Goldfish’s Nap		Goldfish Nap, a soothing song popular with children
43	wind chime		Children enjoying summer with a wind chime nursery rhyme
44	Vegetable Song		A children’s song with a vegetable theme
45	waves and seashellsSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao		The shapes and colors of the shells were formed by waves and light.
46	straw hatSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Satō Makoto		A heat-loving cicada escapes from the straw-hat tree.
47	your smile		Let's spread smiles with a lively song!
48	Zebra Swirl		Zebra Round and Round, a Fun Rhythm Song
49	watermelon splitting		A song that cheerfully sings about watermelon splitting
50	Sticky Samba		Enjoy food education and music with the Sticky Samba
51	Happy Children		Fun warm-up exercises at Happy Children
52	Yaho-ho		Let's have fun with kids by yodeling!
53	Slurping somen noodles		Enjoying summer with a somen hand-play song
54	It’s summer—time for the pool!sakushi sakkyoku/ Abe Naomi		Summer fun at the pool. A fun song for children.
55	Hū-lala hoaloha lā~Sakushi sakkyoku: Ishikawa Yumi		A fun tropical beach song featuring sea creatures
56	Glide, glide, glide through the sea.		A parent-child song for joyfully learning about sea creatures
57	Groovy Wakamehiromichi & tanizou		Parents and children have fun moving their bodies with the wakame dance.
58	Sea MarchKeroponzu Puppeezu		A fun play song where you energetically dance with sea creatures
59	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.
60	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
61	Swim! Taiyaki-kunShimon Masato		An adventure story about a taiyaki escaping to the sea
62	Fish HeavenShibaya Hiromi		A song that features 31 types of seafood to promote fish consumption
63	Spotted garden eel!!Ryūzō Fukuda · Kazuto Ozawa		Exercise song of creatures popping their heads out from the sea sand
64	When the Dock (Japanese knotweed) blooms		When the sorrel blooms, a cheerful spring nursery rhyme
65	Water Gun Song		Let's enjoy summer with water-play hand-clapping songs
66	ice cream		Enjoy food education with an ice cream finger play!
67	Let’s go to the forest.		A healing song that lets you feel the nature of the forest
68	Morning on the Ranch		A morning scene poem depicting a ranch in Fukushima
69	A quiet lakeside		A quiet lakeside, a song popular among children
70	Hey! SeaSakushi: Yamakawa Keisuke / Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naosumi		A lively song that feels like the summer sea
71	Shiritori SongSakushi: Yokobue Tarō / Sakkyoku: Kanenaga Shirō		Have fun learning with a summer shiritori song
72	The Banana That Flew Awaysakushi: kataoka akira/sakkyoku: sakurai jun		Introduction to the nursery rhyme 'Banana' with Latin rhythm
73	tomatoSakushi: Shōji Takeshi／Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumi		Introduce the fun of palindromes using the classic summer vegetable, the tomato
74	Elephant’s hatSakushi: Endo Kozo / Sakkyoku: Nakamura Hiroaki		Summer hats, August 10 is Hat Day
75	Let’s dance, Ondo!		A bon odori song everyone can enjoy, adding color to the summer festival
76	Tanuki Lord’s Ondo		Fun summer memories with the Tanuki Ondo
77	Penguin-chanSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao		A cool summer song starring a penguin
78	Oh, the ranch is green.		Let's move our bodies to the rhythm!
79	Story Finger		Kids are captivated! The fun of fingerplay
80	Thunder God has arrived.		Thunder Lord hand play song
81	The fish jumps.		A fun hand game where fish jump and stick together
82	Norimaki Pera Pari Ondo		Summer Festival with the Fun 'Norimaki Perapari Ondo'
83	bug-catching game		A nostalgic bug-catching song that takes you back to your childhood
84	Yokai Shiritori		Enjoying with kids through a yokai shiritori song
85	Ganbarappa☆Ganbarūn		An upbeat, positive song to enjoy the summer
86	Potato Jaguar		Potato Jaguar is a song popular with children.
87	Picnic		A rhythmic song that enjoys the sounds of animals
88	tea pickingdōyō		Hachijūhachi-ya is the 88th day from the start of spring (Risshun) and marks the beginning of summer.
89	butterflied sardine(s)		Engage children's interest with a fish hand-play song
90	Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star		Enjoy stargazing during Star Week
91	Watermelon-producing region		A child smiles to a summer watermelon song
92	Toiretsha March		August 10th is Toilet Day. A toilet-training song for toddlers.
93	Song of the cicadasakushi: satou yoshimi / sakkyoku: nakata yoshinao		Search by following the sound of cicadas
94	Dolphins are Zambracosakushi: Azuma Tatsuo / sakkyoku: Wakamatsu Masashi		A fun waltz featuring dolphins and animals
95	Song of the SeashoreSakushi: Hayashi Kokei / Sakkyoku: Narita Tamezō		A nostalgic piece depicting seascapes from the Taishō era
96	seaSakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi		The children’s song “Umi” is a triple-meter piece that evokes the image of waves.
97	The ghost has come.Sakushi: Aramaki Shake		A nursery rhyme that depicts a ghost with hand play
98	Goldfish’s NapSakushi: Kashima Naruaki / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryūtarō		A 1919 children's song about goldfish
99	Mount FujiMonbushō shōka		Mountain Day is famous for songs that feature Mount Fuji as their theme.
100	It’s starting! (Summer ver.)		Enjoy arranging hand-clapping songs into summer traditions
101	Camp da Hoi		A children's song about the joys of camping
102	paprikaYonezu Kenshi		Paprika is a cheer song composed by Kenshi Yonezu.
103	Beyond the rainbowSakushi Sakkyoku: Sakata Osamu		Introduction to Beyond the Rainbow
104	Yokai Shiritorisakushi: okuhara yume/sakkyoku: tane tomoko		A cute song about playing yokai shiritori
105	Seagull SailorSakushi: Takeuchi Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Kawamura Mitsuyo		A nursery rhyme that likens seagulls to sailors