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 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.
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)

Groovy Vehicle Dance Medley

[73 Minutes] Groovy Vehicle Dance Medley [Takashi’s Hand Play & Children’s Songs] Japanese Children’s Songs, Finger Play Songs

Groovy Vehicle Dance Medley

Introducing the lively “Norinori Norimono Dance Medley,” a popular song from NHK E-TV’s program Okaasan to Issho.

It’s a perfect medley for kids who love vehicles, featuring lots of cars, airplanes, trains, boats, and more.

Move your body to the music, strike poses, and imitate the motions of different vehicles with big, energetic actions.

With its rhythmic sound and lyrics that keep interest high until the end, children may find themselves completely absorbed.

Prepare a spacious area so kids can move freely and enjoy it to the fullest!

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Fruit Dance Roundup!

[Dance for Kindergartens/Daycare] Fruit Dance Compilation! Kids Dance (Kindergarten/Daycare)

Fruit Dance Roundup!

Fruit Dance roundup! Let’s have fun dancing to a medley of songs.

The tracks feature pineapple, banana, fruit punch, and more.

The key is a cute dance where you say the names of the fruits as you move.

The fruit names are repeated throughout the lyrics, making the songs easy to remember.

The choreography is simple with many repeated moves, so it’s enjoyable for a wide range of ages—from little kids to older children alike.

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Children all over the world

♪ If all the children of the world (with gestures) If all the children of the world laughed at the same time ~ ♪ [Hand-play/Children’s song]

Children all over the world

Why not dance energetically to the song “Sekai-jū no Kodomo-tachi ga,” whose lyrics wishing happiness for children around the world are truly moving? You can have fun with simple choreography—march in place while swinging both arms, or hold hands with your friends.

Choreography using sign language is also popular, so this is a great chance to try a sign-language dance.

If you slow the tempo a little, it also works well for a chorus.

Please feel free to use it for a variety of recreational activities.

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To the Sun in the Palm of Your Hand

Anpanman song “Hold Your Palms Up to the Sun” dance version — razor-sharp Anpanman!

To the Sun in the Palm of Your Hand

The lyrics for this song were written by Takashi Yanase, well known for Anpanman.

It’s said he came up with the idea after shining a flashlight on his own hand and feeling, “I’m alive!” The composer is Taku Izumi, a master of Japanese children’s songs.

The light, buoyant melody combined with lyrics that convey the “joy of being alive” makes kids naturally want to dance! For children to fully enjoy the song “Tenohira o Taiyō ni” (“Hands to the Sun”), it’s important that they first feel, “Isn’t being alive amazing!” If they sing with a bright voice while holding their hands up to the sun and savor the moment of realizing, “There’s blood flowing through me!” their bodies will start moving naturally.

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Green light from the blue sky

Blue Sky Go Sign [Together with Big Sister] Together with Dad

Green light from the blue sky

Known as a song from “With Daddy,” “Blue-Sky Go Sign” is a lovely track that gives the impression that once you take the leap, there are wonderful days waiting under the blue sky.

The blue sky feels like the start of a fun time, doesn’t it? It’s a song that’s enjoyable just to sing, so how about singing it while keeping rhythm with castanets or a tambourine? It also works great as a dance number—with lively choreography, it’s perfect for events like sports days.

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

GeGeGe no KitaroAdo

Ado “GeGeGe no Kitaro” | Opening Video for ‘GeGeGe no Kitaro: The Generations of GeGeGe I Loved’

GeGeGe no KitaroAdo

A yokai beloved by children, too.

Many adults are also familiar with the GeGeGe no Kitaro song.

Its fun rhythm entertains kids even at a relaxed tempo.

The gentle sound of “Tanoshii na, tanoshii na” naturally brings smiles.

The lyric “Obake nya gakkō mo shiken mo nannimo nai” helps everyone feel calm and easygoing together.

And the nighttime line “Obake wa shinanai, byōki mo nannimo nai” adds to the sense that ghosts aren’t scary—you can even feel like being friends with them.

Overall, the mix of a pleasant rhythm, kind lyrics, and a touch of adventure makes you want to move your body freely and have fun.

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Norimaki Pera Pari OndoHanada Yuuichirou, Nagata Maya

[Norimaki Pera Pali Ondo ◆ Live-Action Dance Ver. / Okaasan to Issho July 2022 Monthly Song] NHK E-Tele

Norimaki Pera Pari OndoHanada Yuuichirou, Nagata Maya

The lively, festival-style song Norimaki Pera Pari Ondo, which bursts with summer festival vibes, appeared in July 2022 as the “Song of the Month” on NHK’s Okaasan to Issho.

The lyrics are by Tomomi Fujimo, and the music is by veteran composer Yasuo Kosugi, who has created numerous songs for E-Tele.

Centered on the theme of norimaki (seaweed-wrapped rolls), its catchy “pera-to pari-to” rhythm sticks in your head, and the dazzling production and characters leave a strong impression.

Yuichiro Onii-san appears as Noriko, and Maya Onee-san as Makiko, making this an irresistibly addictive tune that naturally makes you crave norimaki just by watching!

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