[Childcare] Recommended for little kids! A fun round song that makes you want to sing!
How about trying a round, which makes singing together even more fun? Rounds, where the lyrics and melody seem to chase each other, are enjoyable both to sing and to listen to, and some of you may be thinking that you’d love for children to experience them too.
So this time, we’re introducing several rounds recommended for kids.
We’ve gathered songs that are easy even for little ones to sing and that let them enjoy the unique rhythms and harmonies of rounds—from classics many sang when they were small to songs featuring vehicles and animals that children love.
During practice, you might find yourselves getting pulled along by others now and then, but that’s part of the fun.
Enjoy singing freely together with the children in a lively, cheerful atmosphere!
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[Childcare] Recommended for little kids! A fun round that makes you want to sing! (1–10)
maple leavesSakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi
“Momiji,” a song that depicts the beautifully colored trees of autumn.
It appears in elementary school music textbooks and is taught in class, and its lyrics use slightly challenging vocabulary.
Before attempting a round, showing photos or illustrations of the scenery described can help students form a mental image and make the lyrics easier to remember.
That said, the most important part of singing in a round is enjoying the overlaps and offsets of the lyrics and melody.
While listening to your friends sing, try practicing together—teachers and children alike—so that students can enjoy the experience of layering their own voices on top.
Big Songsakushi / sakkyoku: nakajima kouichi
The children’s song “Big Song,” also known as a recreational song often sung at camps, is an easy piece for rounds: without overlapping lyrics, you can sing by echoing and imitating what your friends sing.
The song is notable for words that evoke the grandeur of nature—like “mountain,” “sun,” and “sky”—and lyrics that suggest hope, such as “heart” and “dream.” Along with enjoying it as a round, it might be nice to draw pictures inspired by the natural scenes and future dreams the song brings to mind, helping to spark children’s imaginations.
I’m happy it’s spring.Sakushi: Yamazaki Iwao / Sakkyoku: Komiyaji Satoshi
Composed by Satoshi Komiyaji, this piece is a bright round that celebrates the joys of spring.
Its lyrics, which resonate with children, and its easy-to-remember melody make you feel naturally excited just by singing it.
It’s a perfect song for spring events at kindergartens and nursery schools, and it seems like it would be great fun to sing together while feeling the arrival of spring with the children.
Singing in unison as a group will make it even more enjoyable.
It’s also recommended to come up with choreography themed around springtime nature to perform while singing!
[Childcare] Recommended for little kids! Fun rounds that make you want to sing! (11–20)
Like that blue skySakushi/Sakkyoku: Niwa Kenji
Like a crystal-clear blue sky, this song brightly illuminates children’s hearts.
Written and composed by Kenji Niwa, it captivates with lyrics that convey the importance of a pure heart.
Released in November 2006, it is performed by Satoko Yamano and the Morinoki Children’s Choir.
It’s also designed to be sung as a round, making it perfect for singing together with kids.
Highly recommended for memorable occasions such as preschool and school graduation ceremonies.
Through this work, with its cheerful and uplifting message, we hope children will feel a sense of openness as vast as the blue sky.
The Mouse and the KittenSakushi: Komiyaji Satoshi / Sakkyoku: Smetana
The song “The Mouse and the Kitten” is charming for its very cute lyrics depicting a mouse desperately running away from a kitten.
With simple, easy-to-understand lines like “The mouse goes ‘chu-chu-chu’ as it runs, and the kitten goes ‘meow-meow’ as it chases,” it seems perfect for a round, doesn’t it? Whether you start 4 measures later or 2 measures later, the melodies overlap beautifully, so watch the children and let them try different patterns!
Song of the Year-Roundgaikokukyoku
Feel the changing seasons through song with “A Song for the Whole Year”! It starts with New Year’s in January and includes many memorable events for children, such as Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) in March, Koinobori (carp streamers) in May, summer vacation in August, and Christmas in December.
It might help kids connect months with events—like saying, “It’s May, so the carp streamers are swimming!” When sung as a round, it creates a curious sensation of overlapping seasons.
The lyrics are packed and easy to get carried away, but try singing it while enjoying the transitions of all twelve months!
snowdōyō
When it comes to winter children’s songs, many people probably think of “Yuki” (Snow).
It’s easy to feel warm and fuzzy imagining someone cozily tucked under a kotatsu, or a pet dashing about energetically in the falling snow.
The word “konko” in the lyrics is said to mean “Let it snow more!” If you sing while explaining expressions that aren’t used in everyday life, it may be easier to picture the song, and the lyrics—even those with unfamiliar words—might be easier to remember.