A collection of classic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs for September! Enjoy autumn with your child through songs.
With the refreshing autumn breeze comes a cool season filled with children’s smiles.
During such delightful autumn days, why not incorporate songs and fingerplay that are perfect for the season into life with the children? In fact, there are many children’s songs for September that gently depict autumn scenes, such as ginkgo leaves, chestnuts, and moon-viewing.
Here, we will introduce a wide range of songs that will be useful in September childcare—from pieces that express autumn landscapes like moon-viewing and autumn foliage to fingerplay songs.
Be sure to find songs that let you enjoy the season together with the children while experiencing the ambiance of autumn.
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
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- Song of the Maple Leaves. An autumn children’s song/nursery rhyme/folk song
- Children’s songs and nursery rhymes about the moon
- [Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
- A collection of classic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs for September! Enjoy autumn with your child through songs.
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- [For Seniors] Autumn Songs That Touch the Heart: From Nostalgic Children’s Songs and School Songs to Showa-Era Kayōkyoku
- Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season
- [Autumn Songs] Songs of autumn. Classic tracks and popular favorites you’ll want to listen to in the fall.
- Recommended Autumn Songs for People in Their 80s: A Collection of Seasonal Kayōkyoku and Children's Songs
- Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes about insects
A Collection of Classic Nursery Rhymes & Hand-Play Songs for September! Enjoy Autumn with Your Child Through Songs (31–40)
the head monk at a temple
It’s a hand-play song inspired by “The Temple Priest,” which many people may have done in the past.
You sit cross-legged facing each other like a priest and proceed by clapping each other’s hands.
It’s fun because two people can enjoy it together, and it gets even more exciting if you finish with a quick round of ‘Acchi Muite Hoi.’ You can also make it more challenging by increasing the speed and making the choreography more complex.
Hand Play in September
How about trying some handplay songs that are perfect for September? There are plenty of songs to enjoy this month, like “Tonbo no Megane,” which is about dragonflies you often see outside around September, and “Dango Dango Kuttsuita,” which fits perfectly with moon-viewing season.
Each one involves movements and hand shapes that match the lyrics, so even if it’s your first time, you can learn them quickly.
As you sing and play, imagine what September and autumn are like, and have fun!
Acorns and a Little Squirrel
It’s a cute hand play song about acorns and a little squirrel.
The lyrics involve counting, so it also works as a counting song.
Puff your hands slightly and bring them together to make the shape of an acorn.
When the little squirrel chases them and they roll away, rotate your arms in circles like winding thread to show the rolling motion.
When it asks, “How many are rolling?” let’s count together.
It’s a charming song that also helps children learn numbers.
Pompoko raccoon dogSakushi: Murayama Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Ichinomiya Michiko
Tanuki, often featured in various anime and beloved by many children, take center stage in the song “Ponpoko Tanuki,” which sings about them enjoying moon-viewing.
The lyrics were written by Toshiko Murayama, with music composed by Michiko Ichinomiya.
In the song, onomatopoeic sounds of belly-drumming express how the tanuki are having fun.
If everyone imitates drumming their bellies along with it, it’s sure to liven things up.
Another charm of this song is its many catchy phrases.
Takoyaki
Following summer, autumn is also a season full of festivals, isn’t it? And one thing you’ll always see at festival stalls is takoyaki! Osaka’s famous takoyaki can now be enjoyed anywhere in Japan.
There’s a handplay song that turns the process of making takoyaki into music, and its title is simply “Takoyaki.” How about enjoying autumn festivals while singing this song, or even trying to make takoyaki yourself? The hand movements in the song directly mirror the actions of making takoyaki.
In the latter part, which is a bit like an acrostic using the Japanese vowels a-i-u-e-o, it’s also fun to create your own choreography to match the lyrics!
A Collection of Classic Nursery Rhymes & Hand-Play Songs for September! Enjoy Autumn with Your Kids Through Songs (41–50)
Tanuki-bayashi of Shojoji (The Raccoon Dogs’ Festival Drumming at Shojoji Temple)Sakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
Shojōji no Tanuki Bayashi is a song composed by Shinpei Nakayama with lyrics by Ujō Noguchi that depicts lively autumn tanuki.
The lyrics alone conjure beautiful scenes, full of seasonal atmosphere.
On top of that, playful onomatopoeia representing the tanuki adds a comical touch, letting you enjoy the charm while having fun.
It also seems fun to pat your belly in time with the onomatopoeia.
By the way, the “Shojōji” in the title refers to a temple in Chiba Prefecture.
Taiko Moon
If there’s a song you’ll want to listen to with your child while gazing at the autumn moonlit sky, it’s Taiko Moon.
Sung by Yuichiro Hanada, one of the singing brothers, and Atsuko Ono, one of the singing sisters, it was featured as the Monthly Song for September 2019 on NHK’s Okaasan to Issho.
A light, lively sound unfolds with soft, airy synth tones.
The gentle male–female twin vocals are soothing, too.
It’s a heartwarming song themed around an adventure on the night of the full moon.
It’s also recommended as a lullaby on nights when the kids have trouble falling asleep.
