Nursery rhymes I want to sing in July: fun summer songs
July, the beginning of summer, is hot but such a fun season, isn’t it?
How about singing joyfully in the hot summer to blow the heat away?
To prevent kids from getting heatstroke, spending time indoors singing fun songs is also recommended!
Here, we’ve gathered classic children’s songs and ones often sung at nurseries and kindergartens.
There are songs you can enjoy with hand play, too.
There are lots of songs children love, so sing and play together and feel the summer!
You can have a great time at home as well.
Use this as a guide so both kids and adults can have fun together!
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Nursery rhymes to sing in July: Fun summer songs (61–70)
Spotted garden eel!!Ryūzō Fukuda · Kazuto Ozawa
It’s a fun exercise song that lets you pretend to be that unique creature popping its head out of the ocean sand.
I’ve heard it’s popular at preschools as a “warm-up dance.” The track was created by the unit of Ryuzo Fukuda, Kazuto Ozawa, and Skanpo, and was included on the album “Marutto Minna no Asobiuta,” released in July 2019.
With simple choreography that gently sways the body, it can help loosen children up while building their excitement for the activities to come.
soap bubble
The famous Japanese children’s song “Shabondama” was actually released in the Taisho era and has been loved since long ago.
Soap-bubble play, which children adore, is a classic outdoor activity.
Seeing how far they can fly and how big they can make them—this delightful scene comes to mind, making it a truly wonderful song.
Row the boat
We’d like to introduce the hand-play song “Ofune o Koide,” which is perfect for keeping things fun and cheerful even in the hot summer.
Moving in a way that feels like you’re rowing a boat to a pleasant rhythm naturally brings smiles to everyone’s faces.
The lyrics convey scenes like swaying waves and blowing wind, letting you feel as if you’re actually out at sea on an adventure.
It also sounds fun to sit facing a friend, hold hands, and do it together! Adding a sound effect like “Splash!” between sections of the song will make it even more exciting.
Give it a try for inspiration!
When the Dock (Japanese knotweed) blooms
Let me introduce “When the Dock Blooms,” a song with a gentle melody and a bright tempo.
It’s a song about a flower called sukanpo (dock) that blooms in spring.
This warm children’s song evokes nostalgia, depicting children playing happily and energetically in the fields.
Because it includes repeated phrases that help you feel the season, even children around two years old can enjoy joining in.
Of course, it’s also a soothing piece for babies from 0 years old to listen to.
Be sure to try singing it with your children.
Water Gun Song
Let me introduce a fingerplay for “The Water Gun Song,” perfect for water play or before getting into the pool.
This lively song lets kids feel the unique fun and sense of freedom of summertime water play.
The motion of pretending your fingers are a water gun and going “pew-pew” helps develop fingertip dexterity, imagination, and a sense of rhythm.
The tempo is slow, so even younger children can enjoy joining in.
Various plants and flowers like dahlias and maple leaves appear in the song, so showing real examples or photos may help children picture them more easily.
It’s also fun to swap in familiar plants and playground equipment from your schoolyard into the lyrics.
Give it a try!
ice cream
Ice cream that both kids and adults love! It tastes especially good in the hot summer, doesn’t it? Here’s a hand-play activity themed around ice cream.
In this activity, the song includes hand motions like mixing ingredients such as milk and eggs and cooling them, so children can enjoy it as if they’re playing make-believe, which nurtures their imagination.
It’s perfect for food education, too.
We also recommend expanding the play by making different flavors based on the children’s requests—like strawberry, chocolate, grape, or melon! Give it a try and make some delicious ice cream together!
Let’s go to the forest.
When you want to feel like you’re in a forest, the perfect song is “Let’s Go to the Forest.” This warm, heartfelt song lets you feel the joy of playing in nature and the gentle comfort of the woods.
If you sing it while picturing the green trees, chirping birds, and the pleasant breeze, both the singer and the listeners will feel as if they’re actually in the forest.
The key is to sing each word clearly and brightly.
It’s a song full of charm that naturally brings joy—sing it with excitement, letting your body bounce to the rhythm, and you’ll find yourself having fun.