[Childcare] Summer songs: Full of fun! Summer nursery rhymes & finger-play songs

It’s summer—time for the pool!Sakushi • Sakkyoku: Abe Naomi

[Hand Play] It’s summer, it’s pool time ♪ <with actions>

A song packed with the fun of becoming underwater creatures—swimming smoothly like a frog, floating gently like a jellyfish, and playing in full character.

The cheerful chorus everyone can sing together will boost the excitement for water play.

Created by Naomi Abe, a leading figure in children’s music, this piece is also included on the February 2016 album “Asobiuta-den: Shunkashūtō Tora no Maki.” It’s perfect as a warm-up before getting into the pool—sing while moving your body with lots of energy! Make summer memories by imitating underwater creatures together as parent and child.

Squid squid dolphinSakushi: Shimoyama Kei / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako

Squid Squid Dolphin [Uta no Mama Papa] Okaasan to Issho - Children's Song, Hand Play

It’s a song where changing just one character—“ru”—turns it into a different creature, showcasing a brilliant wordplay idea.

Written by lyricist Kei Shimoyama and composed by Wakako Fukuda, this piece comically portrays a mischievous dolphin and an ink-squirting squid! The song was first performed on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” in January 1998 and was released as a single in August 1999.

The lively call-and-response lines in the lyrics make it perfect for parents and children to create their own original dance and have fun together.

Whale BusSakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Shibuya Tsuyoshi

Whale Bus (Okaasan to Issho) / Daisuke Yokoyama & Takumi Mitani

This piece is a song brimming with dreams about a giant sea creature that transforms into a bus, carrying squid and tuna on a journey to Antarctica.

The lyrics were written by Takao Ide, and the music was composed by Takeshi Shibuya, who is also a jazz pianist.

Released in June 2006 as a song on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” it has since been performed by a variety of singers.

It’s perfect for parents and children to enjoy together—swaying along to playful sound effects like engine noises and imagining where the story is headed.

Its cool, refreshing world makes it an ideal choice for indoor play during the hot summer months.

Let’s invite that girl and go to the beach.Sakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako

Let's invite that kid and go to the sea – with subtitled lyrics [UtaSuki Video] Okaasan to Issho

It’s a song that makes your heart dance, like setting off on an adventure to the sea with friends.

The lyrics are wonderfully charming, expanding children’s rich imaginations with images of daydreaming about mermaids and pretending to be pirates! This piece was performed on NHK E-Tele’s “Okaasan to Issho,” with the audio released in March 2015, and it’s also included on the album “NHK Okaasan to Issho Special Stage: Welcome to the Midsummer Party.” With its light, danceable rhythm, it might be perfect for lively playtime where kids can move their bodies energetically with their friends.

Swim! Taiyaki-kunShimon Masato

Swimming! Taiyaki-kun – Every day, every day, we’re grilled on the hot plate and we’re getting sick of it ~ (with actions) [Hand play / nursery rhyme]

This is a song by Masato Shimon that tells the story of a taiyaki who, fed up with its boring daily life and dreaming of freedom, runs away to the sea.

Released in December 1975, the song became a massive hit, topping the charts for 11 consecutive weeks as an insert song on the children’s program Hirake! Ponkikki.

Many listeners likely remember the taiyaki’s seafaring adventure set to a wistful melody—and its slightly bittersweet ending.

Through this piece, you can not only imagine the unique sight of a taiyaki setting out to sea, but also take the opportunity to think together with your child about the deeper question: What does freedom really mean?

Spotted garden eel!!Ryūzō Fukuda · Kazuto Ozawa

Garden Eels!! / Ryuzo Fukuda & Kazuto Ozawa (Featuring: Ryuzo Fukuda & Chisato Kawasaki)

It’s a fun exercise song that lets you pretend to be that unique creature popping its head out of the ocean sand.

I’ve heard it’s popular at preschools as a “warm-up dance.” The track was created by the unit of Ryuzo Fukuda, Kazuto Ozawa, and Skanpo, and was included on the album “Marutto Minna no Asobiuta,” released in July 2019.

With simple choreography that gently sways the body, it can help loosen children up while building their excitement for the activities to come.

Oh, the ranch is green.

Oh, the pasture is green — oh, the pasture is green; over the sea of grass the wind blows~ (with gestures)

Let’s move our bodies to the rhythm! Here are some ideas for “Oh, the Meadow is Green.” These ideas are perfect for summer, when the weather is nice and the air is crisp.

They’re especially recommended if you’re thinking, “What song should we sing this month?” or “I’m looking for something with a good rhythm!” The song “Oh, the Meadow is Green” is the Japanese version of the folk song “Ach, synku, synku”/“Ach, krásná louka” (often known in English as “Ah, Lovely Meadow”), which has been sung for a long time in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

By adding some choreography, you can enjoy engaging with the music even more.