Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season
In dazzlingly green May, many of you are surely looking for children’s songs and hand-play tunes to sing with kids at daycare or at home.
Songs that evoke spring really capture children’s hearts and add color to everyday activities.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of nursery rhymes and hand-play songs perfect for May.
From familiar, easy-to-sing melodies to ones that get kids moving, we’ve got a wide range—so try incorporating them into your daily childcare and parent-child time!
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Nursery rhymes and hand-play songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season (81–90)
Picnicdeguchi takashi
A song that gently portrays the fun of a picnic in a meadow and warm interactions with flowers and insects, highlighted by Takashi Deguchi’s uniquely soothing vocals.
Released on an album in November 2022, it was also featured on a children’s educational TV program.
Perfect as a fingerplay song for singing and dancing with kids—ideal for activities at daycare and kindergarten, as well as family bonding time.
Since numbers appear in the lyrics, it’s also great for practicing counting!
Dog PolicemanSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumi
The children’s song “The Policeman Dog” tells the story of a dog who becomes a policeman and a cat who gets lost.
Often sung on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” it’s a tune well-known among children.
The lost cat goes to the dog policeman for help, but only cries and can’t provide any information.
In the end, even the dog policeman is at a loss and starts crying too—a comical storyline.
May brings warmer weather and more activity, so be careful not to get lost!
Let’s go to the zoo.Sakushi: Umino Yōji / Sakkyoku: T. Paxton
May has pleasant weather, and many kindergartens and nursery schools go on field trips.
If you’re heading to the zoo, we recommend the song “Let’s Go to the Zoo”! This song, which has been aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” and “Okaasan to Issho,” is based on “Goin’ to the Zoo” by American singer-songwriter Tom Paxton.
The lyrics describe going to the zoo and spotting lots of animals, and they also include animal sounds, so children can enjoy singing it like a wordplay game.
Sing the song and head to the zoo to look for the animals that appear in the lyrics!
Toy Cha-Cha-ChaSakushi: Nosaka Akiyuki / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
When it comes to things kids absolutely love, toys are at the top of the list! On Children’s Day, many children probably get their favorite toys as gifts.
Here’s a perfect toy-themed song for such a day! Interestingly, it wasn’t originally a children’s song, and the lyrics were different from what they are now.
It was later remade as a nursery rhyme, and that’s the version still sung today.
There’s also an English version called “Toys Dance The Cha Cha Cha,” so curious kids can give it a listen and practice their English at the same time!
koinobori (carp streamers)sakushi: fushō / sakkyoku: Hirota Ryūtarō
Koinobori are carp streamers that symbolize Children’s Day in May.
Among the songs about koinobori is “Koinobori,” composed by Ryutaro Hirota.
It’s a different koinobori song from “Koinobori” that sings of parent and child carp swimming in the sky.
Although the lyrics use slightly difficult words, the content itself portrays the features of carp streamers swimming through the sky and the surrounding scenery.
From their wide-open mouths to their gently swaying tail fins, the lyrics depict their splendid traits and convey the strength and bravery of koinobori that won’t be defeated by strong winds or even great waterfalls.
Be sure to sing this “Koinobori” as well on Children’s Day!