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 (101–110)
Banana Parent and Child
When it comes to popular songs from “Okaasan to Issho,” this one stands out.
Its lyrics personify a family of bananas, playfully depicting the everyday lives of Papa Banana, Mama Banana, and Little Banana.
Set on a southern island, you can almost picture the bananas swaying in the breeze.
Since its release in 2001, it has captivated children without letting go.
Its charm lies in the poppy, catchy melody that makes it fun for parents and kids to sing together.
It’s perfect for singing indoors to cool off on a hot summer day.
Add some hand motions or get into the spirit of being a banana, and it becomes even more enjoyable.
It’s also an ideal song for nurturing children’s vocabulary and sense of rhythm.
Gorilla Song
The children’s song “Gorilla no Uta” (Gorilla Song) features lyrics by Maya Uekubo and music by Akira Mine.
It’s a unique tune that depicts a gorilla in Africa happily pounding its chest and eating bananas.
Adults might wonder, “So what’s the point?” but kids love simple songs like this! There isn’t any set choreography, so have fun in your own way—imitate a gorilla’s voice or pretend to eat a banana! Even simple movements are fun when everyone does them together!
The dolphin goes splish-splash.
‘Iruka wa Zanburako’ was originally composed for the NHK Educational TV music program ‘One-Two-Don.’ With a bright waltz rhythm, it’s a song popular among children.
The lyrics are very amusing, full of puns that delight kids, making it a very fun piece.
Song of the cicada
“The Song of the Cicada” playfully captures all sorts of cicada moments, a hallmark of summer.
In summer, their calls can be heard everywhere: while the heat feels even harsher to adults, for children they spark excitement—Where are they calling from? I want to catch one! The lyrics were written by Yoshimi Sato, also known for the children’s song “The Policeman Dog.” The song tells of how hard it is to spot a tiny cicada perched on a big tree, yet how its loud call gives it away.
It’s a perfect children’s song for July, when the cicadas’ chorus begins.
Slippery somen noodles
When it comes to hand-play games that blow away the blazing July heat, “Slurping Somen” is the one.
Precisely because it’s a hot season, a game themed around cold somen noodles is sure to be a hit.
The hand motions of bringing noodles to your mouth with chopsticks pair perfectly with lyrics that are easy for children to remember.
Have the kids sing along to the teacher’s song and hand motions.
You’ll likely feel a sense of unity in the final moment when everyone raises their fists.
Be sure to learn this summer game that livens up indoor time without any props.
It’s a game that will make both children and teachers crave some cold somen noodles.
Nursery rhymes to sing in July. Fun summer songs (111–120)
The Banana That Flew Away
Under the blue southern sky, two children tug over a banana, and whoosh!—it slips and flies away.
Oh no! What will happen to this banana? The song has six verses.
Be sure to listen and find out where the banana, which keeps zipping away, finally ends up.
Its unexpected ending is sure to make you smile.
tea picking
Hachijūhachi-ya, which marks the changing of the seasons, is the 88th day from the first day of spring (Risshun).
On the calendar, summer begins on this day, and it traditionally served as a cue for farmers to start picking tea.
It’s said that drinking the first-picked tea (ichibancha) harvested on this day will keep you healthy and free from illness for the year.
Speaking of Japanese tea, Shizuoka—the country’s top tea-producing region—Kyoto’s Uji tea, and Saitama’s Sayama tea are especially famous.
In the fresh-green season of early summer, many of you may also know the children’s hand-clapping song that begins with “Ses-ses-se—no yoi yoi yoi,” a folk-style tune that evokes Japan’s pastoral scenery.