Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Recommended for sports day performances and dances! A collection of classic and popular songs

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.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

Sports Day, the once-a-year event that’s also a special occasion to feel the children’s growth!

It’s an important event for parents and teachers too.

Here, we’ve gathered a variety of recommended songs to make the games and dances even more exciting.

From classic favorites to theme songs from anime kids love, and even tracks that adults can enjoy together—we’ve got a wide range of genres.

Use the videos as a reference and come up with choreography that perfectly matches the kids’ personalities!

Find the best song to light up Sports Day, and let both children and adults have fun!

[Childcare] Recommended for sports day performances and dances! Classic & popular song collection (21–30)

Obake bake bake gaccha!Keroponzu

Ghosts, Beke-beke, Bakegatcha! / Starring: Keropons & Ryuzo Fukuda

Obake bake bake gaccha!Keroponzu

If you want to get kids excited at a Halloween event, this song—where you can dance along with friendly ghosts—is highly recommended.

It was produced in October 2022 as a song provided to BMK and was selected as the theme song for the TV anime “Obake Zukan!” within TV Tokyo’s “Oha Suta.” Furthermore, in February 2023, a version sung by Keropons themselves was released, and in the music video—choreographed under the supervision of Ryuzo Fukuda—you can see everyone joyfully dancing with the ghosts.

Its upbeat, danceable rhythm and the thrilling world where ghosts appear are part of its charm, and it’s packed with easy-to-learn moves kids will want to copy.

Dance together with children dressed as ghosts or pumpkins at a Halloween party, and you’re sure to have a time full of smiles.

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The Pupu and Humu Incident-Solving Dance

Butt Detective “Pupu-tsu and Hm! The Solution Dance” Let’s all dance! Anime ver.

The Pupu and Humu Incident-Solving Dance

“Pupu-tsu and Humu-tto Kaiketsu Dance” is the opening theme of the anime Butt Detective.

In the anime, Butt Detective and Brown are dancing.

The detective-style signature poses and the hip-wiggling choreography are really cute.

The tempo is fast and there are some detailed moves, so while it’s a song aimed at young children, you can simplify the choreography so everyone can enjoy it! If you’re performing it at a sports day, how about preparing detective-like costumes and props?

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[Childcare] Recommended for sports day performances and dances! Collection of classic and popular songs (31–40)

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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Bean Squadron Bibin-Biin

With Mother: Latest Songbook - The Bean Squadron Bibinbiin

Bean Squadron Bibin-Biin

Especially boys tend to love superhero teams, don’t they? This song, “Omame Sentai Bibinbi~n,” features little beans who fight for love, peace, and, of course, rice.

The choreography includes transformation poses that kids will want to imitate, and the music itself is really cool.

How about becoming part of the Bean Ranger Squad together with the kids and dancing in style? If you prepare sentai-style costumes or bean-themed headgear, it’ll really boost the kids’ excitement.

Let them come up with their own signature poses so they can express their idea of what’s cool!

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stroll

My Neighbor Totoro ~Stroll~ [Original Choreography] Sports Day Dance / Recital Dance for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens

stroll

Sampo, the opening theme of Studio Ghibli’s film My Neighbor Totoro released in 1988, is a hugely popular song among children of every generation.

Its bright rhythm that makes you want to start walking, along with lyrics that seem to capture the joys kids discover on a stroll, make singing it feel like going on an adventure! The song is also popular as a dance tune, so it’s fun to come up with choreography that matches the words and try dancing to it.

Perfect as BGM or for dances at school sports days!

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Anpanman’s March

Anpanman’s March 🌥️ [Original Choreography] Perfect for use in kindergartens and nursery schools!

Anpanman's March

When it comes to characters beloved by infants and toddlers, Anpanman is at the top of the list! Many children probably know the song Anpanman no March, which became the opening theme for the anime “Soreike! Anpanman.” The lyrics conjure up the image of the kind and strong Anpanman, and you can just imagine kids striking poses as if they were Anpanman themselves.

While it’s common to enjoy dancing with original choreography, trying your hand at playing it on an instrument is also highly recommended!

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PopopopoposeGReeeeN

Popopopopose

PopopopoposeGReeeeN

Popopo-Pose is a song used in the popular children’s TV show “Inai Inai Baa!” It’s an original track written by GReeeeN for the program.

The song pairs catchy, pop-style lyrics with a routine that has kids striking various poses.

There are four moments throughout the song where everyone strikes a signature pose together, so it’s fun whether you match the group pose or make up your own and dance freely.

If you choose the latter, you can change the pose each time, which will keep kids excited and energized as they dance.

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