[Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
November is late autumn—the season of falling leaves—and a time when we start to feel winter approaching.
This time, we’ve gathered children’s songs and fingerplay songs with a November theme.
From pieces that evoke autumn scenery to songs that hint at the coming of winter, we’ll introduce plenty of sing-and-play fingerplay tunes!
They’re perfect for play at home, daycare, or kindergarten, so be sure to give them a try.
We’ve provided movement examples, but it’s also fun to arrange them in your own style!
Before the real cold sets in, let’s all sing and play together on these autumn days!
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
- [2026] Songs to listen to in November: masterpieces of late autumn, autumn songs.
- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- Song of the Maple Leaves. An autumn children’s song/nursery rhyme/folk song
- December children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: fun winter hand-play songs
- Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with
- A collection of classic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs for September! Enjoy autumn with your child through songs.
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- [Autumn Songs] Songs of autumn. Classic tracks and popular favorites you’ll want to listen to in the fall.
- [For Seniors] Autumn Songs That Touch the Heart: From Nostalgic Children’s Songs and School Songs to Showa-Era Kayōkyoku
- Snow Songs to Enjoy in Winter! Children's Snow Nursery Rhymes & Hand-Play Songs
- Recommended for daycare activities! A Halloween song you can sing and play with
- Autumn anime songs: iconic tracks for the deepening fall
[Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs (1–10)
Konkon fox
“Konkon Kitsune” is a hand-play song that children from infancy to early childhood can enjoy.
You make a fox shape with your hands and move it around, imitate a fox’s cry, and try out various ways to play.
Since the fox pops out from different places in the song, it naturally draws children’s attention.
At the end, you place both hands on your knees to finish.
It seems perfect for transitions or introductions in nursery schools and kindergartens!
Mountain Musicians
Based on a German folk song, The Mountain Musicians is a piece loved by people of all ages, both now and in the past.
As the title suggests, adorable animals living in the forest play various instruments to make music.
It’s a delightful song that sparks children’s imaginations just by listening.
If you take a walk in the woods in November, you’ll want to stroll along while singing this tune!
Under the big chestnut tree
The children’s song “Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree,” based on an English folk tune.
The lyricist and composer are both unknown, but it’s a classic selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Songs.
It depicts a very cheerful scene of playing and chatting under the chestnut tree.
This song is also famous as a hand-play song, so if you have children at home, you’ve probably played it at least once.
It’s perfect for November—be sure to use it for indoor play on chilly days.
[Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn finger-play songs (11–20)
Bright Red Autumnsakushi: satsuma tadashi / sakkyoku: kobayashi hideo
This song, vividly depicting the colors of autumn, expresses the season’s beauty through the eyes of children.
Scenes of nature turning red—ivy, maple leaves, and snake gourds—appear one after another, conveying the pure joy of children who discover them.
First introduced in October 1963 on NHK’s “Tanoshii Uta,” it has since remained beloved through “Minna no Uta.” The lyrics, which fully embody Tadashi Satsuma’s poetic worldview, allow children to feel the beauty and vitality of autumn’s nature.
It’s a perfect piece for autumn events at nurseries and kindergartens, or for family strolls.
Why not sing it together and joyfully welcome the arrival of autumn?
The Hungry Tummy Songsakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumi
Speaking of songs that cutely and comically sing about “being hungry,” this “Onaka no Heru Uta” comes to mind.
It was broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” among others, and remains a favorite among children today.
It sings about the simple fact that you get hungry no matter when, but the choice of words used to describe hunger is really amusing.
After the song ends, kids might just beg you for a snack (lol).
dragonfly glassesSakushi: Nukaga Seishi / Sakkyoku: Hirai Kōzaburō
When you think of autumn creatures, dragonflies come to mind.
Catching a glimpse of one in flight makes you think, “Ah, autumn…” doesn’t it? With that, how about the song ‘Dragonfly’s Glasses’? This tune gradually spread nationwide from around 1950, and once summer passes, you just can’t help wanting to sing it.
You make two circles with your hands for the glasses—so simple, yet it brings the feeling of autumn.
It’s also great to sing it outdoors while actually watching dragonflies.
Let’s make the most of the cool season!
autumn sky
It’s a very short piece, but as the title suggests, it’s a memorable song that evokes the clear autumn sky.
There’s a call-and-response part where you shout toward the sky, so if adults sing it, kids will surely enjoy copying them.
Even children who are too young to sing can have fun with this song.
If you go for a walk in the pleasant autumn weather, be sure to try singing it.