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! Perfect songs for the fresh green season (1–10)
I want to scribble on the sky.sakushi: Yamagami Michio / sakkyoku: Izumi Taku
Let us introduce a dream-filled children’s song that’s perfect for the season when May’s fresh greenery sparkles.
Created by Michio Yamagami (lyrics) and Taku Izumi (music), this piece is a delightful song that nurtures children’s rich imagination.
With lyrics brimming with free-spirited dreams—like a big apple tree, a bulldog, and a long bridge—paired with a light, cheerful melody, it’s truly charming.
It’s included on the albums “Kodomo no Uta: Paku Paku Itadakimasu!” and “Ukiuki Wakuwaku! Kodomo no Uta,” and is also used as teaching material in kindergartens and nursery schools.
It’s a wonderful song to enjoy the joys of spring—whether you sing it while looking up at the sky on a walk, or sing along with friends while drawing pictures.
strollSakushi: Nakagawa Rieko / Sakkyoku Hisaishi Joe
Warm May days are perfect for a stroll! And the perfect song to listen to on such a walk is the opening theme from Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro.
Singing along will surely make you want to explore all sorts of places.
The names Satsuki and Mei from My Neighbor Totoro come from the old Japanese name for May and the English word for May, respectively, so both the song and the film are a perfect match for the month.
How about spending Golden Week by taking a walk while singing this song, then coming home to watch My Neighbor Totoro?
Let’s go to the park.Sakushi/Sakkyoku: Sakata Osamu
This popular song from NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” is characterized by a bright tone that evokes the arrival of spring and a lively, uplifting rhythm.
Created by Osamu Sakata, it features lyrics that convey the joy of playing outdoors and a warm worldview that can be enjoyed across generations, from babies to the elderly.
It was sung by Ayumi Shigemori and Kentaro Hayami in August 1999, and around the same time it was also included on Ikkokudō’s album “Niji no Mukou ni.” It’s a heartwarming piece you’ll want to hum with someone special during a sunny walk or playtime at the park—perfect for enjoying with family and friends in the fresh green season.
Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Perfect songs for the season of fresh greenery (11–20)
The Turtle’s ExcursionSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
An adorable song starring a laid-back turtle, its bright and breezy melody is sure to soothe the heart.
The scenes—like getting a backpack ready three days before a field trip, and finally arriving at the meeting spot around noon—are brimming with humor that makes you smile.
With lyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa and music by Hirotaka Nakagawa, the piece was first released to the world in 1994 on the album “Sora to Tomodachi,” and has since become widely loved in kindergartens and nursery schools.
In November 2021, it was also included on the album “Toshihiko Shinzawa & Hirotaka Nakagawa Songs <30th Anniversary Commemorative Children’s Chorus Edition>,” celebrating 30 years of their partnership.
It’s a fun song through which children can learn the value of going at their own pace.
A strawberry is a strawberry.Sakushi: Kotaki Kiyomi / Sakkyoku: Fujita Taishi
This is a charming song with a bright, rhythmic, and fun melody paired with heartwarming lyrics.
It was broadcast in May 1997 as the “Song of the Month” on NHK’s Okaasan to Issho, with lyrics by Kiyomi Kotaki and music by Taishi Fujita.
The gently told story follows a protagonist who dreams of becoming a cake and, while chasing that dream, discovers their own true self—making it a song that enriches children’s imaginations.
Sung and beloved by Kentaro Hayami and Ayumi Shigemori, it was later carried on by Akihiro Sugita and Ryoko Tsumoda.
It is also included on the album NHK Okaasan to Issho Memorial Album and has been cherished by many children.
It’s perfect for humming during walks or outdoor play, and for singing together on spring field trips or fun outings.
When sung with family, it’s sure to become a wonderful memory that shares the joy of spring.
Mr. Ant on an errandsakushi: Sekine Eiichi / sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
They say this song was written in 1950 for the NHK radio program “Toddler Time,” so it’s been around for quite a long time.
The way it describes a line of ants walking as if they’re “running an errand” is charming and delightful.
The lyricist, Eiichi Sekine, was apparently a private railway station attendant at the time and not a famous songwriter, but he aimed to write lyrics that would be easy for children to understand.
The Bento Box SongSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Akihiro
This is a fingerplay song, beloved by children, that cheerfully introduces the contents of a lunchbox.
Miyako Kayama’s warm lyrics perfectly match Akihiro Komori’s bright, friendly melody, resulting in an uplifting tune.
It’s fun to sing while doing the hand motions, and the lively storytelling is part of its charm.
Released as a single by Nippon Columbia in August 1978, the song was featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” and the Nippon TV network’s “Ohayō! Kodomo Show,” gaining widespread popularity.
It’s a delightful song that makes moments centered on food—like packing lunches or getting ready for a field trip—even more enjoyable.