Lovely childcare

Nursery rhymes to sing to your baby! Recommended songs enjoyable from 0 months

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
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.

Here are some heartwarming songs recommended for babies!

Why not spend a happy time by singing along to the rhythm, enjoying your baby’s smile as you do?

Sway your body to the beat and clap your hands to the lyrics—the fun will only grow.

When babies see adults singing, they naturally open their hearts and feel your love.

Playing along with cheerful songs can also give you moments when you really feel your baby’s growth!

Enjoy a joyful music time together with your little one.

Nursery rhymes to sing to your baby! Recommended songs that can be enjoyed from 0 years old (41–50)

What color do you like?

[Baby Stops Crying] What Color Do You Like? / Together with Mother (Covered by UtaSuta) [Crayon/Colors/Memorization Song]

What color do you like?

This is a song that has been sung since 1992 on the NHK Educational TV program “Okaasan to Issho” (On Mom’s Side/With Mother) broadcast on E-tele.

Its bright, cheerful melody makes it enjoyable even for very young babies just to listen to.

Since the lyrics mention crayons of many different colors, it’s a great chance to learn color names or ask about your child’s favorite color.

Once your child starts mimicking your words, try singing while playing with crayons of the same colors—everyone will have even more fun together!

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mixed juice

We did the fingerplay song “Mixed Juice.”

mixed juice

Let’s make mixed juice with lots of our favorite fruits! This cheerful song is called “Mixed Juice.” Many kinds of fruit appear, and each one has its own choreography, so it looks like a fun way to learn the names and move your hands and feet.

It wraps up with a big “Kanpai!” so it’d be great for everyone to say it together in unison!

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Murakami Shinpei

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Squeezing rice balls

Onigiri Nigini-gi (Baby Touch-and-Play Song)

Squeezing rice balls

While matching the phrase “onigiri nigiri, nigirinco,” sway your hands left and right and gently squeeze your arms as you give a massage.

In the second verse, the lyrics change to “hokarinco,” so touch your own cheeks or mom’s cheeks to feel their warmth.

In the third verse, the lyrics change to “kororinco,” and you roll your body from side to side like turning over.

These varied stimuli can help promote sensory development, but if the baby’s neck is not yet stable, proceed with caution and do not push it.

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Fururira~

[Baby Play] “Full Rila~” (from above) baby massage, baby exercises

Fururira~

This is a baby massage song featuring lyrics with a rain motif.

Move the baby’s legs gently from side to side to the music, and stimulate them by expressing the intensity of the rain—like pit-pat or pouring—through touch on their body so they can feel it.

In addition to touching with your fingers, show the movement of your fingers to guide the baby’s gaze, and look into their eyes to send a clear message of love.

Looking into their eyes and touching their body helps release oxytocin—often called the “happy hormone”—in the brain, soothing both of you and wrapping you in a feeling of happiness.

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Mickey Mouse March

Hug-and-play for 0-year-old babies—super popular! Mickey Mouse March

Mickey Mouse March

Set to the famous Mickey Mouse March, this is a baby massage song where you ask, “Where is your head?” After asking, gently tap with your hand and show your baby by saying, “Here it is, here it is, it’s right here.” You can do this with any body part like the tummy, cheeks, or bottom.

At the end, ask, “What is your name?” and lovingly say your baby’s name.

It might help them start learning their own name.

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