![[Music Play] Children’s Recreational Music: Rec Songs You Can Sing and Play](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/_4AyAv_xE8o/maxresdefault.webp)
[Music Play] Children’s Recreational Music: Rec Songs You Can Sing and Play
We’re introducing playful songs and recreation songs that you can enjoy with children!
We’ve gathered a wide variety—from classic folk dance and campfire songs to rounds, hand-play songs, and playful tunes perfect for bus activities.
They’re all songs that everyone will say, “I’ve heard this before!” so you can use them for recreation with confidence.
The folk dance songs also come with choreography tutorial videos, so please use them as a reference.
Let’s sing together and have a wonderful time!
[Music Play] Recreational Music for Children: Rec Songs You Can Sing and Play (1–10)
Picnic
With its energetic melody, “Picnic” livens up both bus activities and the walk to the destination.
It’s based on the American song “She’ll Be Coming ’Round the Mountain,” and in Japan it’s also well known that WANIMA sang a parody version, “Yatte Miyou,” in an au commercial! The song cheerfully depicts the road to the picnic, warming children’s hearts as they look forward to the fun to come.
There’s a section where animals appear and you imitate their sounds, so it works great as a call-and-response between the teacher leading the group and the children.
Country Road
Country Road, the theme song from Studio Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart, is a great pick for sing-alongs on the way to field trips or camping.
It’s a version of the 1971 song by American singer John Denver with original Japanese lyrics.
During the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Japan’s national team drew attention by singing a parody version titled Victory Road.
The song conveys a hopeful feeling that a wonderful view surely awaits at the end of the road you keep walking.
It boosts the excitement and anticipation for the fun times that lie ahead on your upcoming trip or camp!
Child of Abraham
It’s a slightly surreal game where you dance along to lyrics that are a bit mysterious.
It originally came from an American folk song, but Japanese lyrics were added and it spread nationwide, mainly through the YMCA in Japan.
There’s a record sung by Masato Shimon, known for “Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun,” and that version is probably the best-known audio.
As for how to play, you sing the same lyrics each time, and with every repeat you add another body part to move.
As more and more parts get added, the dance becomes harder—and more fun.
Jenka
The folk dance “Jenka,” which originated in Finland.
In Japan, many people—depending on their generation—likely danced it many times at school sports days.
Set to a monotonous, endlessly looping melody, you step out twice with each foot starting from the right, then repeatedly jump forward and backward in the sequence: forward, back, forward, forward, forward.
Dancers form lines or circles and place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front.
If you miss the jumping sequence, you might step on someone’s feet or nearly fall, so be careful.
Because the team has to move in sync, it really fosters a sense of camaraderie!
Genghis Khan (also refers to a Japanese grilled mutton dish called ‘Jingisukan’)
If you’re looking for a fiery melody that’s perfect for a campfire, look no further than Dschinghis Khan! It’s a song by the German music group Dschinghis Khan, and in Japan it drew attention when it was used in the synchronized swimming scene of the drama Water Boys.
It has been covered many times by Japanese artists like Berryz Kobo and Kome Kome Club, as well as by artists overseas.
It can be hard to catch what the lyrics are about at first listen, but its intriguing vibe and catchy melody have made it popular with many people.
There are also versions with Japanese lyrics, so sing and dance with energy—matching the power of the campfire flames!
Ten thousand feet in the Alps
Alps Ichiman-jaku is a hand-clapping game you can play anytime, anywhere, as long as you have one person next to you.
It’s based on the American folk song Yankee Doodle, but the lyrics are completely different from the version known in Japan.
It’s a classic hand game played by two people using both hands while singing.
There are both simple and difficult choreographies, and in either case, once you make a mistake it’s hard to recover—surprisingly challenging! Most people know only one set of lyrics, but in fact the song goes all the way up to verse 29.
It might be fun to memorize and sing all 29 verses to go along with the hand game!
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
Janken Train is a group recreation game where everyone plays rock-paper-scissors and gradually links up like a train.
At first, each person pretends to be a train on their own and moves around.
When the music briefly stops, you find someone nearby and play rock-paper-scissors; the loser goes behind the winner and links on.
You repeat this over and over in a knockout-style game.
In the end, you’ll have a very long train! It’s great for outdoor play and can be enjoyed indoors as well, so it’s perfect for rainy-day recreation.
Mayim Mayim
“Mayim Mayim” is a staple of folk dance that many people have enjoyed dancing.
Composed by Emanuel Amiran, it is known as an Israeli folk song.
Dancers join hands to form a single circle, then dance by tightening and widening the circle and moving sideways.
“Mayim” means “water” in Hebrew, and the dance expresses the joy of discovering a water source in a dry region.
Therefore, the basic rule when dancing to this song is to have fun! Try expressing through the dance the joy of playing harmoniously with everyone and the joy of spending a happy time together.
Korobushka
Korobeiniki, a Russian folk song famous as a folk dance tune, is also well known in Japan for being used as the background music for Tetris.
Dancers form two concentric circles and face each other as they dance.
It’s a very active folk dance: you hold hands and move forward and back, step in rhythm, turn to the side while moving, and switch front-and-back positions.
As the music gradually speeds up, it becomes even more thrilling.
Since the choreography can be a bit tricky and there’s a lot of moving around, it’s best to practice before you dance.
It’s great fun when everyone moves in perfect sync, so give it a try and make some wonderful memories!
Burn, burn.
Moero yo Moero is perfect for a roaring campfire with big flames.
It’s based on the French folk songs Clair de la lune and Au clair de la lune (Star Light, Gently and The End of the Day).
Set to a gentle melody, it expresses the wish for the campfire to blaze brightly and light up the dark night.
Opportunities to see large flames like a campfire up close are rare, so take it in with your eyes and engrave it as a page in your memories.
And be sure to include the memory of everyone singing this song together right alongside it!