[Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.
Kids love to sing!
Singing is a form of exercise, nurtures interest in language, and helps develop expressiveness and a sense of rhythm.
It’s also said that singing releases “happy hormones,” making it effective for relieving stress.
Bring plenty of music into daily life and sing freely together with your children.
This time, we’re introducing popular children’s songs we’d love you to sing and play with your kids!
We’ve collected everything from classic nursery rhymes passed down through the years to the latest hit songs.
You can search songs by category—animals, vehicles, food, and more—so you’re sure to find the perfect tune for your children.
If you add simple choreography or hand-play motions as well as singing, the kids will be thrilled!
Be sure to explore a variety of nursery rhymes and enjoy happy times with your children!
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Songs of Animals and Insects (21–30)
Mushi-Mushi FestivalHanada Yuuichirou, Nagata Maya
A song that makes you want to sway your body and groove to the rhythm! Let me introduce “Mushi Mushi Festival.” Its charm lies in the adorable, insect-themed lyrics.
It’s perfect for kids who love looking at bugs or are into bug-hunting as their current craze.
The song was performed in June 2023, with lyrics and music by Tetsu Kashiwa.
The unique lyrics are delightful and easy for children to remember.
Since the names of insects appear in the lyrics, kids will likely get excited when their favorite bug shows up!
a cat’s child; a kittenSakushi / Sakkyoku: Deguchi Chikara
Blending a gentle, adorable rhythm with hand-play movements, this piece is perfect for interactive play with babies from 0 years old.
Its cat-themed, charming world broadens children’s imaginations.
Satoko Yamano’s clear, transparent vocals combined with Masashi Wakamatsu’s tender arrangement weave a heartwarming melody.
Included on the album “Columbia Kids: Parent and Child Nursery Songs—Enjoy the Rhythm and Words of Songs,” released in June 2018, it is also cherished in early childhood education settings.
By making eye contact with your child and moving hands and fingers together, the circle of communication naturally grows.
It’s recommended for morning meeting time, end-of-day gatherings, and family bonding time at home.
Frog ChorusSakushi : Okamoto Toshiaki / Genkyoku: Doitsu min’yō
With its easy-to-remember melody that anyone can start singing right away, this piece is based on a German folk song, with Japanese lyrics written by Toshiaki Okamoto.
When you think of a round, this is the first song that comes to mind.
Because you can enter every two measures from any point, it’s easy to catch the timing to join in.
There’s only a first verse, and the lyrics are very simple, so you won’t spend time memorizing them and can enjoy singing in a round immediately.
When trying a round in kindergarten, nursery school, or elementary school, encourage the timing to come in by calling out loudly, “Ready, go!”
Piglet-raccoon dog-fox-catsakushi sakkyoku/yamamoto naozumi
An adorable children’s song where four familiar animals are linked together in a word-chain (shiritori).
It’s also popular as a hand-play song.
Written and composed by Naosumi Yamamoto, it was broadcast on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” and has continued to be loved by many children.
In August 1999, a version by Masako Saito and the Suginami Children’s Choir was released, and various artists have covered it since.
Its simple, easy-to-remember melody and the animals’ distinctive sounds make it perfect for hand-play time in kindergartens and preschools!
The Bear of the Forestamerika min’yō
This nursery song, depicting a charming encounter in the forest, spread nationwide in 1972 when Dark Ducks performed it on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” With its humorous story and familiar melody, it warmly conveys the bear’s gentle thoughtfulness.
In October of the same year, a single was released by King Records, with a Russian folk song on the B-side.
Because it can be sung in an echo-song format, it’s perfect for campfires and kindergarten choruses! Its lively 4/4 rhythm makes it easy for everyone to have fun singing together while naturally learning the melody.
A Rainy Day on the Ranch
Set on a rainy day at a farm, this friendly song portrays the animals having fun.
Cows, sheep, and chickens play in the rain and stroll under umbrellas, all depicted with a bright and charming melody.
Released in September 2024 as an original song on the YouTube channel “LiaChaCha,” this piece is perfect for June, when indoor play increases during the rainy season, and is a tune kids can sing and enjoy together.
It’s sure to blow away those rainy-day blues.
Animal Clock
A charming song notable for its timekeeping rhythm and richly characterized depictions of animals.
The clock’s tones feel like the animals’ heartbeats, giving the piece a warm, inviting quality.
While it teaches about time, its playful melody sparks children’s imaginations.
The song has also been featured on the educational program “Okaasan to Issho,” capturing the hearts of many children.
Singing it with kids who are just learning to read the clock will naturally nurture their interest in time.