Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season

Picnic Marchsakushi: Ide Takao / sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi

Children’s song [Picnic March] with choreography ♪ song ♪ dance ♪

A bright and cheerful march-style song born from the familiar NHK program “Okaasan to Issho.” It expresses the act of stepping forward while cheerfully addressing your right and left feet, through adorable lyrics and a rhythmic melody.

Created as an insert song for the puppet show “Niko Niko Pun,” which aired from 1982 to 1992, it featured the trio of Jajamaru, Pikkoro, and Porori singing and dancing—an image that left a deep impression on many children.

Thanks to its easy, movement-friendly appeal, it’s often sung at events like field trips and sports days and is widely used in early childhood education.

It’s a perfect song for a picnic in open fields that stirs the urge to run around, or for the season of meeting new friends.

A caterpillar

[Fingerplay Song] An Active Nursery Teacher Demonstrates “One Little Caterpillar”! [With Singing and Motions]

May is also the season when fresh green leaves are beautiful.

Many children probably get absorbed in observing insects in parks and nature, don’t they? “One Little Caterpillar” is an adorable song that depicts a caterpillar dancing and hopping with friends, then getting tired and falling asleep! You can enjoy a fingerplay by wiggling your raised finger like a caterpillar.

Numbers appear in the lyrics, making it perfect for practicing counting! For indoor play, singing while looking at picture books or field guides may make it easier to imagine.

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Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba

♪Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky [with gestures] Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky, a big, big ship 〜♪ [Children’s song / nursery rhyme]

A song that paints a large ship in the blue sky and sings of an adventure to a new world is full of charm that richly nurtures children’s imaginations.

Along with energetic calls and cheers, its uplifting message that expands their hopes for dreams will surely resonate deeply in children’s hearts.

Beloved in kindergartens and nursery schools, this work shines in scenes where children sing together, such as at sports days and concerts.

Its structure, which lets children move their bodies joyfully while singing, is also a major appeal that enables everyone to have fun as one.

It is a cherished piece in childcare and educational settings.

Bamboo shoots are sprouting.warabeuta

[KBS Children's Songs] The Bamboo Shoot Sprouted

Through a traditional Japanese play song that evokes the arrival of spring, it gently wraps children’s hearts in warmth.

The key is choreography that engages the whole body—pressing both hands together above the head to show a sprout pushing up from the ground, or spreading both arms wide to mimic a flower in bloom.

The way it’s played varies slightly by region and has been passed down from parents to children.

It can be enjoyed not only as a hand game but also as a rock–paper–scissors game, making it popular among children in nursery schools and kindergartens.

Keeping rhythm while moving their hands and bodies, children naturally break into smiles.

This piece is a friendly song that eases the worries of children who feel anxious in new environments.

It is truly a perfect number for fostering children’s healthy growth and emotional richness.

Applause for you!sakushi: aritarou/sakkyoku: masuda tarou

Clap for you! (With gestures) A big clap for the one I love—sending claps flying your way~ ♪ [Okaasan to Issho / Okaits]

This refreshing piece, themed around handclaps, was broadcast as the Monthly Song for February 2023 on NHK E-TV’s “Okaasan to Issho.” Its lyrics, which convey gratitude and encouragement through the act of clapping, gently embrace feelings too deep for words and soothe the listener’s heart.

In the video, the older performers in colorful costumes sing and dance joyfully in front of a dazzling floral set, leaving a lasting impression.

It’s a heartwarming work that cheers on children who strive every day and gives courage and energy to parents raising them.

TulipSakushi: Kondo Miyako / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi

Tulip (with gestures) [Japanese song / shoka]

This song is about tulips, a flower familiar as a symbol of spring.

Tulips are commonly seen from mid-April to around May, so this song is perfect for May! In addition to the classic colors mentioned in the lyrics, tulips are said to come in a total of nine colors, including purple, green, and black.

You might not find them easily around your neighborhood, but you may be able to see them at places like botanical gardens.

We recommend going for a stroll to look for tulips in unusual colors while singing “Tulip”!

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Hamamatsu City: Introducing April's nursery rhymes for rhythmics (Eurhythmics)

The children’s song handed down in Saga Prefecture has horsetail shoots as its theme, heralding the arrival of spring.

The lyrics call out to the sprouts as they peek up from the soil.

There are many ways to enjoy it—swaying together as parent and child or playing with a cloth, for example.

Reflecting the local culture, it is a cherished tradition passed down across generations.

It also seems to encourage interaction with springtime nature and promote rhythm and language development.

Widely enjoyed by various ages in nursery schools and kindergartens, it is a lovely song that expresses hopes for children’s healthy growth.