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!
- [Songs for May] Tracks that suit fresh greenery and driving & Mother's Day songs
- Nursery rhymes to sing in spring: a collection of classic songs you'll want to sing with your children
- Songs to Listen to on Children’s Day | A Curated Selection of Music for Tango no Sekku!
- [Children’s Day Hand-Play Songs] A Collection of Nursery Rhymes & Traditional Children’s Songs for Parents and Kids to Enjoy Together
- [For Seniors] A collection of nostalgic classics to sing in May: popular songs everyone can hum together
- Songs for an Unwinding Heart in May: From Showa-Era Classics to Recent Hit Singles
- [Children’s Songs for June] Fun finger-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes perfect for the rainy season
- [Karaoke Songs for May] A list of classic tracks that capture the lingering spirit of spring and the arrival of early summer
- Blow away the May blues! Cheer songs and feel-good tunes to listen to in May
- March nursery rhymes & hand play songs! Spring songs you can enjoy with your kids
- [For Seniors] Spring Songs You'll Want to Hum: Feel the Season with Nostalgic Classics
- Spring songs from the early Showa era: a collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring
- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Perfect songs for the season of fresh greenery (11–20)
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.
Story FingerSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
This is a heartwarming children’s song that you can enjoy while doing hand play.
By imagining your fingers as cute family members, it unfolds like a conversation between characters, so it’s great fun to sing while moving your fingers together with your child! Created by Yoshiko Kayama and Akira Yuyama, the piece was first introduced in February 1962 on the NHK radio program “Toddler Time,” and has been included on many classic recordings, such as the album “Children’s Songs by Age (2) Ages 1–2.” Its simple lyrics and melody are charming and perfect for parent-child bonding.
Widely loved as a staple hand-play song that’s hugely popular in kindergartens and nursery schools, it has also been featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho.” The bright, cheerful melody makes it easy to sing and is sure to bring a smile to your child’s face.
Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
This lively children’s song by Yoshiko Kayama and Akira Yuyama captures the excitement of setting off on a trip in a big bus.
Set to a rhythmic melody, it gently portrays children enjoying pretend play with vehicles.
It’s a song you can sing while moving your hands and body, so it naturally brings smiles to children’s faces.
Long cherished in childcare and educational settings, it’s also used as a play song.
With spring outing season approaching, why not sing it together as a family before a walk or a day out? If everyone enjoys it while keeping the beat, it will surely create wonderful memories in children’s hearts.
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 Hungry Tummy Songsakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumi
This is a delightful children’s song by Hiroo Sakata (lyrics) and Megumi Oonaka (music) that humorously portrays hunger.
With a simple, friendly melody and lyrics that gently capture everyday moments of children, it’s a work that’s sure to bring a smile.
First released in 1960, it was performed by the Froebel Boys’ Choir when it aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1962.
Loved for many years since, it was rebroadcast in July 2021.
It’s perfect for singing together as a family when you’re hungry or during snack time—smiles come naturally.
It’s also an ideal song for lunch during field trips or picnics.
Sing it together, and your mealtime will become an even more memorable, joyful moment.
Roly-poly pill bugSakushi / Sakkyoku: Shinzawa Toshihiko
A fingerplay song that gently portrays the cute looks and movements of small creatures was created by Toshihiko Shinzawa.
With warm lyrics and melody, it depicts encounters with the little creatures often seen in nature, making it an engaging piece that stimulates children’s curiosity.
Featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” in December 2024, this work includes creative elements that let children enjoy expressing the adorable behaviors of animals through hand motions.
It can be used in kindergartens and preschools, and also serves as a tool for parents and children to bond while fostering an interest in nature.
With soothing lyrics and an approachable tune, it’s a perfect song for making happy memories during walks and outdoor play.
Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Perfect songs for the fresh green season (21–30)
ladybugSakushi: Shimizu Aki / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Tsuyae
A children’s song lovingly sung by Aki Shimizu and Tsuyae Kobayashi about a small red insect.
Set to a bright, lighthearted melody, it gently portrays the charming creature with its red body and distinctive black spots.
The song is included on the albums “Kodomo no Uta 200,” “Let’s Sing About Nature!,” and in the 1981 publication “Minna no Uta: 86 Songs,” and has long been beloved by many children.
With its friendly tune, it’s the kind of song you’ll find yourself humming on a leisurely spring day while out for a stroll.
It’s perfect not only for music activities in nurseries and kindergartens, but also for families to enjoy together while experiencing the nature of spring.