[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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Winter Songs (11–20)
Hey, Santa Claus grandpaSakushi: Yuasa Tonbo / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
It’s a fun song that asks, from a child’s unique perspective, what Santa Claus did when he was little.
With lyrics by Tombo Yuasa and music by Hirotaka Nakagawa, the song is included on the album “Tonbo-sensei no Wakuwaku Shūkai” and has long been loved in early childhood education settings.
Its appeal lies in the easy-to-sing melody and gentle wording, and the piano accompaniment is arranged simply.
The lyrics, filled with warmth and anticipation for Santa, perfectly capture how children feel as they look forward to Christmas.
It’s ideal for Christmas events at kindergartens and nurseries, as well as for family time at home.
Sing it together, and you’re sure to make even more happy Christmas memories.
Happy Happy ChristmasBeibī Shāku to Pinkittsu
This Christmas song, sung by a beloved character adored by children around the world, was released on YouTube in November 2020 and was included in the December 2021 album “Pinkfong Baby Shark Special.” The lyrics convey the joy of eagerly awaiting Christmas and a warm message encouraging everyone to sing and have fun together.
With its bright, lighthearted melody and the easy-to-remember “doo doo doo” phrase repeated throughout, even young children can quickly sing along.
It’s a perfect song for singing and dancing with the whole family at Christmas gatherings or parties at home.
Christmas Where Angels SingShinzawa Toshihiko
On Christmas night, if you listen closely, you can hear angels singing…
This is a Christmas song that paints a quiet and mystical scene.
Lyrics and music are by Toshihiko Shinzawa, and it is performed by Satoko Yamano, who was active as the “singing sister” on NHK Educational TV’s Yukai na Concert.
It was included in the album “Christmas SONGS” released in September 2015 and produced as a sheet music book with CD for preschools and kindergartens.
It’s perfect for gently singing together as a parent and child while savoring the quiet feeling of Christmas night! It’s also recommended to incorporate puppet staging for Christmas party performances.
Enjoy the special atmosphere of this holy night together with your child.
Waltz dance in the snow
This is a dance set to a waltz-style arrangement of the children’s song “Yuki” (Snow).
It begins with a polite bow, then continues with choreography that evokes falling snow and the motions of building a snowman.
In the latter half, there’s also a move where you face a friend and do a high-five, making it a dance everyone can enjoy together.
In the video, the same choreography is performed at three different speeds—from slow to fast—so it’s great for practice, and it also looks fun to challenge yourself to see how fast you can keep up.
Songs to stop crying / Lullabies (11–20)
Perfect for a baby lullaby!
There are many nursery songs that have long been loved as lullabies. I’ll carefully introduce selections ranging from gentle nursery tunes with soothing melodies that help babies relax to popular lullabies. I’ve gathered only famous songs that you’ll recognize as soon as you hear the melody. Reference article:Lullabies: children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Nostalgic songs for putting children to sleep.
Songs to Stop Crying / Lullabies (1–10)
LullabySakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Kusakawa Shin
Looking at the lyrics, there are descriptions like a canary singing, a mouse swaying a string, and loquats in bloom.
Perhaps in the past it was normal for children to take naps outside.
It’s perfect as a lullaby for when a baby falls asleep.
Schubert’s Lullaby
As its name suggests, this lullaby was composed by Schubert.
Remarkably, it is said he wrote it when he was 19, so reattribution would indeed be incorrect.
As for the German lyrics, it appears that the author is currently unknown.
Perhaps future research will reveal who wrote them.
Schubert himself lost his mother at the age of 15, so he may have composed it in fond remembrance of her.
In Japan, it is most often sung in translations by the French literature scholar Naito Atsushi or the lyricist Kondo Sakufu.
hometownOkanoteiichi
Composed in 1914 as an elementary school song for sixth-year students, this piece is likely known by nearly everyone in Japan.
Although it was not written as a lullaby, it would suit being sung as one.
Like Western lullabies, it is in triple meter.
Frequently heard in various contexts—such as train station melodies and commercials—this song could be considered a symbol of the Japanese spirit.
Singing it while savoring the lyrics might even bring tears to your eyes.