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 (91–100)
Come, fireflysakushi sakkyoku: warabe uta
Fireflies that emit beautiful light can be seen around the beginning of summer.
The children’s song Hotaru Koi is themed around these fireflies.
Because fireflies can only be found where the water is clean, you might not see them very often in everyday life.
But when you do, why not sing this song and dream of meeting them again? The lyrics depict someone calling to the fireflies, saying there’s tasty water and not-so-tasty water here, so come this way.
These lyrics have been interpreted in various ways, and despite the cute melody, there are versions with slightly eerie continued verses.
If you’re curious, try looking into it!
Song of the cicadasakushi: satou yoshimi / sakkyoku: nakata yoshinao
When the sound of cicadas reaches your ears, you can’t help but feel that summer has arrived.
If their chorus is too loud it can seem noisy, but the chirping of cicadas is closely linked with summer in Japan.
The children’s song “Cicada Song,” which is popular among kids, is highly recommended—if you sing it together while catching cicadas on a hot summer day, it makes the game even more fun.
Coming up with your own original dance moves could be enjoyable too!
Nursery rhymes to sing in July: fun summer songs (101–110)
Jellyfish Puwarin
A popular song from NHK’s children’s program “Inai Inai Baa!” The lyrics vividly describe jellyfish drifting through the sea with the phrase “puwarin puwarin.” Through encounters with sea creatures like sea anemones and whales, the song conveys a message that nurtures curiosity about nature and living things.
Its lively rhythm and friendly melody are designed to make it fun and easy for children to sing along.
At the end of the song, there’s a scene where the jellyfish soar into the sky, evoking a sense of anticipation for a new adventure.
Released in 2014, it is widely known as a fan favorite within the show.
Singing it while imagining the cool, refreshing world of the ocean on a hot summer day might be a great way to lift your spirits.
natto
One of the hand-play songs popular with children at daycares and kindergartens is “Natto.” The lyrics feature everything from small natto to big natto, and kids play by twirling their hands as if mixing natto and stretching both hands as if pulling sticky threads.
It’s a very simple song with easy movements, so even little ones can learn it quickly and have fun.
July 10 is “Natto Day,” so if you’re looking for a hand-play song for July, this one is recommended.
Many children love natto, so they’re sure to get into it and play enthusiastically!
School of Medaka
This song uses the unique onomatopoeic expression “tsui-tsui” to depict medaka fish swimming leisurely.
The lyrics liken a school of medaka in the river to students and a teacher, sparking children’s imaginations.
First broadcast in March 1951 on an NHK program for young children, it has been beloved by many ever since.
In 1952, a record featuring a performance by Aiko Anzai received the Arts Festival Award.
On a hot summer day, singing it while picturing medaka gliding through a cool river is sure to refresh both body and mind.
Why not sing it together as a family and appreciate the beauty of nature and the importance of living creatures?
From inside the cabbage
A recommended hand-play song for kids: “From Inside the Cabbage.” The creature that comes out of the cabbage is a caterpillar.
For people who grow vegetables it’s a pest, but many children like them since they turn into butterflies when they grow up.
During summer vacation, some kids may have observed a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
In this song, a family of caterpillars appears, and at the end they become butterflies.
It’s a simple, easy-to-remember song, and there’s a hand-play routine using both hands—so be sure to give it a try!
tomato
Tomatoes are in season in summer! Their bright red color is so cute! There are big tomatoes and tiny cherry tomatoes, and besides red, there are also yellow and orange ones.
This is a song about those adorable tomatoes.
It has a cute name that reads “tomato” whether you read it from the top or the bottom.
When they’re small, they wear blue clothes, and when they grow up, they wear red—so stylish! Sing the tomato song and enjoy lots of sweet-and-sour, delicious tomatoes!