[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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Summer Songs (11–20)
Morning on the Ranch
It is said that the lyrics of “Morning on the Ranch” were written with Iwase Farm in Kagamiishi, Fukushima Prefecture as their model.
The lyrics depict the ranch at daybreak, shrouded in mist, interweaving scenes of sound and light along with the people working on the ranch and the sheep.
Describing how morning arrives on the wide ranch and a new day begins, the song’s lyrics are also included in elementary school textbooks.
Asking children what kinds of animals might be on a ranch, or explaining the kinds of work people do there, may help them form a clearer image of the piece.
A quiet lakeside
“Shizukana Kohan” (Quiet Lakeside) is a German folk song to which Keizo Horiuchi added Japanese lyrics.
Its gentle tempo and catchy, memorable melody make it popular with children, who sing it cheerfully and with enthusiasm.
Because it’s a beloved song, many people of all ages know it, which is another reason it’s so enjoyable.
Forming a circle and holding hands while singing with the children can create a sense of unity and make it even more fun.
Since it’s a bright, lively tune, it’s also recommended for summer events.
Summer Songs (21–30)
wind chime
Hearing the sound of wind chimes in the hot summer gives you a sense of elegance, doesn’t it? With its relaxed tempo and gentle lyrics, “Wind Chimes” is a pleasant children’s song that evokes the feeling of summer.
It’s also great to sing while holding a baby for a nap or when they start to cry.
Showing what an actual wind chime looks like can make it easier to imagine the lyrics, too.
Try singing this wind chime song with children to make the summer heat feel cooler.
It might even become a song that reminds you of your summer memories.
Hey! SeaSakushi: Yamakawa Keisuke / Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naosumi
When you think of summer, many of you probably picture the blue ocean.
In times like that, we recommend this song, “Hey! Ocean,” which lets you feel the sea’s vastness and beauty, as well as the gentleness and power of nature.
The lyrics are charming, as if you’re really speaking to the ocean, making it perfect to sing with energetic children full of summer spirit.
Move your body to the bright, free-flowing melody and rhythm, and you’ll likely feel your spirits lift! Try singing from your diaphragm, imagining your voice carrying far into the distance.
Songs of Autumn (21–30)
An autumn children's song that makes walks more fun!
Autumn’s slight chill somehow evokes a touch of loneliness, yet it’s also a season filled with the beauty of colored leaves and the sounds of insects. We’ve gathered songs perfect for autumn walks where children can have fun picking up fallen leaves and acorns, as well as tunes everyone wants to listen to when autumn arrives! Reference article:[Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
Autumn Songs (1–10)
mushroomSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Kurakake Shōji
Mushrooms are an essential taste of autumn.
This song describes mushrooms growing hard and strong while receiving blessings from the heavens.
We tend to forget about them because they don’t move, but in fact mushrooms grow just like we do! Listening to this song helps you see mushrooms as living beings, so even kids who don’t like the taste might grow fond of them.
It’s also great as a play song for nursery schools and kindergartens.
Children aged 1–2 dancing in mushroom costumes would be absolutely adorable.
