Lovely childcare

Fun to dance! A roundup of recommended dance songs for young children, perfect for daycare and sports days

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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

Dance activities in daycare and at sports festivals are very important times for children!By moving their bodies to music, they can learn a sense of fun and rhythm.Choosing a special dance for the upcoming sports festival is one of the exciting parts, too.Here, we introduce recommended dance songs for young children that are perfect for daycare and sports festivals.Kids who are tuned into trends will also enjoy dancing to more mature-sounding songs.Choose dances and exercises that match the children’s preferences, and have both kids and adults get excited together!

Dancing is fun! A roundup of recommended dance songs for preschoolers for daycare and sports days (101–110)

Body Dance

A huge hit with kids! “Keropons” Body Dance / Weekly ‘Teach Me! Chatty Skeleton’ Special Video: “Honekky’s Body Dance”

Body Dance

Kero-pons, famous for “Ebi Kanikusu,” also dance to “Karada Dance.” The lyrics that sing about various bones are fun just to listen to.

The choreography is surprisingly detailed and tricky, but it’s definitely worth a try for older kindergarteners who love quirky songs! Become a skeleton and try moving your body from the joints!

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Banana-kun Exercise

Banana-kun Exercise (Lyrics and Music by Toshihiko Shinzawa) [from Toshihiko Shinzawa’s “Dance! Sports Day”]

Banana-kun Exercise

I think the lively Latin style will be a hit! As long as it’s not as fast as in the video, even younger kids can do it.

It’s a very simple exercise.

Of course, adults can enjoy dancing to it too! There are lots of repeats and it hardly needs any practice, so please give it a try! It’s simple and sure to get everyone excited.

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Under the Sea

Under the Sea [Simple Choreography for Toddlers]

Under the Sea

“Under the Sea,” a song from the Disney film The Little Mermaid that’s beloved by children and adults alike.

It’s sung by Sebastian, the crab who’s always worried about Ariel, and it celebrates the cheerful, fun world under the sea.

The refreshing, ocean-evoking melody makes you feel as if you’ve traveled right into Ariel’s underwater world just by listening.

For this song, which captures the beauty of the sea no matter which part you take, we recommend adding movements that evoke sea creatures and the motion of the waves.

Move your body big and wide, and express the joyful world of the ocean!

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school song

Let’s Dance Together ♪ [School Song] Dance Version ☆ Choreography Practice ☆ himawari-CH

school song

Here’s a song and dance released by HIMAWARI Channel, brought to you by Tohoku-based YouTubers from Fukushima Prefecture: the four siblings—second daughter Ma-chan, third daughter O-chan—along with their dad and mom.

It seems they’re even selling merchandise, which really shows the influence YouTubers have.

There’s also a practice video for the dance, so you can train while watching it.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Acorn Man

[Childcare] “Acorn Man” Ages 3+ · Sports Day & Recital Dance [PriPri]

Acorn Man

“Donguri Man” is a song that lets children transform into Acorn Man.

From the title, you might think of the nursery rhyme “Donguri Korokoro,” but the vibe is completely different.

This acorn is a very powerful one (lol).

It’s a perfect action song for energetic kids!

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Fun to dance! Recommended toddler dance songs for daycare and sports days (111–120)

Bamboo Shoot Exercises

[Childcare, Educational, and Play Song] Bamboo Shoot Exercise for Toddlers

Bamboo Shoot Exercises

Do you know “Takenoko Taiso” (Bamboo Shoot Exercise)? Its lyrics are mostly onomatopoeia and quite quirky, but it’s a staple as an exercise song and fairly well-known.

The dance, which shows bamboo shoots growing, overlaps with the image of children who are about to grow, giving it a positive, uplifting feel.

There are several versions of the choreography, so pick the one that’s easiest for you to dance!

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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stroll

Stroll (My Neighbor Totoro) / Sister Momonao ♪ Children’s Songs ♪ Nursery Rhymes ♪

stroll

“Sanpo” is well known as the song from Studio Ghibli’s popular film My Neighbor Totoro.

It has a slow, very relaxed tempo, so it’s very easy to sing and dance to.

Swing your arms wide and walk as if you’re out for a stroll!

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