Lovely childcare

Popular songs recommended for nursery school sports days! A roundup of classic crowd-pleasers and the latest hits

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.

The preschool sports day is a once-a-year event that the children really look forward to! And you can’t do without BGM to boost the excitement! Upbeat music makes the competitions and dances even more fun, and it brightens the mood of both the children and the cheering adults.

Here, we’ll introduce recommended songs for sports day.

We’ve gathered energetic tracks that lift your spirits just by listening—beloved anime songs for kids, exercise tunes everyone can enjoy, and familiar classics.

Find songs that match the theme of your sports day or class, and create a fun atmosphere!

Popular songs recommended for daycare sports festivals! A roundup of classic crowd-pleasers and the latest hits (101–110)

Shimajiro Ondo!

Shimajiro Ondo! [Shimajiro Channel Official]

Shimajiro Ondo!

It’s a fun ondō that makes your heart dance along to an energetic rhythm.

Born in March 2018, this song carries messages about the spirit of challenge, a sense of adventure, and the importance of life.

Children’s curiosity and positive lyrics are sung in Shimajiro’s gentle voice.

It’s used in the dance segment and ending of the TV show “Shimajiro no Wao!” and is loved by children at concerts and events nationwide.

There’s choreography that kids can dance to as well, making it a sure hit at nursery and kindergarten events! It’s a perfect song for parent-child bonding time or whenever you want to get moving together with children.

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Kupurupā is a secret word!

Movie tie-in dance song “Kuprupa Is a Secret Word!” [Shimajiro Channel Official]

Kupurupā is a secret word!

This is an insert song from the film that, with its bright, poppy sound and lyrics that capture children’s hearts, conveys the importance of friendship and cooperation.

Using the “secret word” as their motto, Shimajiro and his friends embark on an adventure that communicates the value of bonds and a spirit of kindness.

With its rhythmic groove and dance, it’s designed for kids to enjoy together.

The song appears in the March 2019 film Shimajiro and Ururu’s Hero Land, where it’s used memorably alongside the adventure in Hero Land.

It also comes with a fun group dance, making it a recommended track for preschools and at home.

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Disney exercises

<Kindergarten Dance/Nursery Dance> Disney Exercises | Easy-to-follow choreography danced by an active kindergarten PE teacher! You can use it as-is and dance along while watching! (Kindergarten/Nursery)

Disney exercises

Disney and Mickey are hugely popular with children.

This dance is set to Disney music like the Mickey Mouse March, and because familiar songs appear one after another, kids are sure to have a great time.

It’s also perfect as a warm-up.

The choreography doesn’t change rapidly; you repeat the same movement several times before moving on to the next, making it easy to learn and easy to recover even if you make a mistake.

Plus, the moves match the feel of the songs, so it’s easy to get into the rhythm.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Yo-kai Exercise No. 1Dream5

Yo-kai Watch: Yokai Exercise No. 1

Yo-kai Exercise No. 1Dream5

The ending theme song for the TV anime, performed by Dream5—a group hugely popular with both kids and adults—has been creating a buzz.

The track charmingly portrays everyday mishaps like oversleeping and picky eating as the work of yokai, all set to a fun, upbeat tune.

Released in April 2014 as their 12th single, it was a tie-in with a TV Tokyo anime and featured choreography by Lucky Ikeda, which made it a big hit among children.

It’s a song kids can enjoy moving along to, with easy-to-learn choreography that’s perfect for nursery and kindergarten events.

It’s also recommended for parent-child activities and as a dance for sports days!

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My cutest featureFRUITS ZIPPER

[My Cutest Part] FRUITS ZIPPER “Easy Dance” — A dance you can do at sports days or at home! Perfect for preschoolers and elementary school kids!

My cutest featureFRUITS ZIPPER

The song “My Cutest Thing” features a catchy melody and adorable lyrics that leave a lasting impression.

It celebrates an idol discovering her own charm and the joy of sharing it with fans.

Digitally released in April 2022, it went viral on social media and became a major hit.

In September 2023, it was released as a CD single in nine versions, including solo jacket editions for each member.

With its bright, energetic vibe, it’s perfect for dancing with kids and is highly recommended for events like sports days and recitals where everyone can have fun dancing together.

As you enjoy the lyrics, you can also experience the fun of finding your own “cutest thing.”

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Recommended popular songs for nursery school sports day! A roundup of classic crowd-pleasers and the latest hits (111–120)

APT.ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

[Let's all dance ★ Easy choreography] APT. | ROSÉ & Bruno Mars | DANCE | Easy dance, elementary school, junior high school, high school

APT.ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

A fusion of K-pop and American pop! The collaboration track by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars is a unique piece born in Korea.

With its catchy melody and addictive rhythm, even kids might find themselves swaying along.

Released in October 2024, the song became a massive hit on charts around the world.

It’s perfect for a fun dance time.

Highly recommended when you want to get into a party mood or hype everyone up.

Get creative with costumes and be sure to dance along with the kids!

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But no loveRainy。

"Detective Conan" New Non-Credit Opening | Rainy. "But No Love" - “DETECTIVE CONAN” New Opening Movie (2025)

But no loveRainy。

Let me introduce a lively song that both adults and kids can enjoy! Rainy.’s energetic dance number carries a warm message, portraying young people boldly forging their own paths with bright melodies and strong determination.

Released as a single in January 2025, it was chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime Detective Conan.

This is a track you can enjoy along with dance performance, so why not try expressing it by dancing together as a family? Experience a wonderful musical world filled with the dreams and hopes of youth together with your children.

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