A big hit with kids! A collection of songs that gets everyone pumped for childcare and recreation
I want to create a dance time overflowing with children’s smiles! Here are some super-energetic songs that are perfect for just such moments.
These tracks don’t just build a sense of rhythm—they also let kids feel the joy of moving their bodies together with friends.
If adults join in too, the whole venue will naturally get into the groove! We’ve gathered lots of songs you can use for warm-ups, school sports days, everyday childcare, and recreation.
Enjoy a collection of fun music that will make children’s hearts and bodies bounce!
A smash hit with kids! A collection of songs that get everyone grooving for childcare and recreation (1–10)
Poyoyon March
“Poyoyon March” is a very upbeat song and a fan favorite from NHK’s Okaasan to Issho.
As long as you’ve got your feet, you can keep moving forward—if it’s you, you’ll be fine! With that feeling packed into the music, it’s perfect for dancing.
Since it’s a march, swing both arms, march in place, and dance with lots of energy.
There are lyrics about leaping into the sky, so it could be fun to do a big jump there.
The choreography is up to you, so try imagining kids brimming with energy as you come up with it.
SmileKamisiraishi Moka
Why not try dancing a popular sports day routine to “S-M-I-L-E,” the opening theme of NHK’s beloved kids’ anime Hanakappa? Sung by Moka Kamishiraishi, this cheerful, high-energy number is perfect for children, and their enthusiastic performances—after practicing hard to learn the choreography—are sure to be a hit with parents, too.
“S-M-I-L-E” is an up-tempo pop tune, but it also playfully slips in a brief phrase from Mozart’s famous Eine kleine Nachtmusik at the very end.
Be sure to pair it with fun choreography and dance your heart out!
To the Sun in the Palm of Your Hand
The lyrics for this song were written by Takashi Yanase, well known for Anpanman.
It’s said he came up with the idea after shining a flashlight on his own hand and feeling, “I’m alive!” The composer is Taku Izumi, a master of Japanese children’s songs.
The light, buoyant melody combined with lyrics that convey the “joy of being alive” makes kids naturally want to dance! For children to fully enjoy the song “Tenohira o Taiyō ni” (“Hands to the Sun”), it’s important that they first feel, “Isn’t being alive amazing!” If they sing with a bright voice while holding their hands up to the sun and savor the moment of realizing, “There’s blood flowing through me!” their bodies will start moving naturally.
Kera Kera Rock-Paper-ScissorsNEW!kerakera
As a way to break the ice with children who are excited and a little nervous about the new environment during entrance ceremonies or class promotions, how about Kerakera’s “Kerakera Janken”? This song uses the universally known game of rock-paper-scissors as its motif and is a simple play-along tune where you just throw rock, scissors, or paper to the rhythm.
It’s a single released in October 2014 by the unit known for the theme song of the drama “Last Cinderella,” and it was later included on the album “Kerakeraland.” The music video also drew attention for featuring Nozomi Tsuji.
If you move your body in time with the shout-along lyrics, smiles are sure to follow.
Get the parents involved too, and try it as a recreational activity to get the whole venue buzzing.
Toy Cha-Cha-Cha
The classic children’s song “Omocha no Cha-Cha-Cha” is an appealing piece with its bright rhythm and imaginative lyrics about toys coming to life at night.
Beyond being a dance tune, it can also be used for hand-play activities or as a theme for school performances.
Kids who love toys will be excited simply because the song and dance theme is “toys.” It would be fun to include choreography that lets them pretend to be toys and move freely.
It’s a highly recommended song that draws out children’s imagination.
I wish you lots of happinessnaniwa danshi
It’s also a great idea to perform a dance to an uplifting, motivational song.
With that in mind, I’d like to recommend “Sachiare.” This track was specially written by Yūjin Kitagawa of Yuzu and performed by the idol group Naniwa Danshi.
The lyrics remind you to rediscover the small joys in everyday life.
Because the catchy phrase in the title is repeated throughout, it’s easy to get into the groove and get everyone hyped.
The lyrics also evoke something glittering, so it should pair well with a pom-pom dance.
Ta-da-da-da-daaa!
Panpaka Panpan Paan is a song that gives you courage when your environment changes or when you start something new.
Its toe-tapping rhythm will brighten your mood just by listening.
If you’re using it for recreation, why not enjoy a dance to this tune? Form a circle and spin around hand in hand, gather in the center, or simply raise both hands—you’ll still have plenty of fun.
It’s also perfect as a dance song for a school sports day!