Lovely childcare

[For 0-year-olds] Recommended songs for babies: A special feature on bonding play and traditional nursery rhymes

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherDr. Chick
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherRisa Shibata
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

Music has a mysterious power: when you sing, a baby may suddenly stop crying, drift off to sleep, or show you a lovely smile.

It’s said that listening to music from a young age can boost concentration and support language development.

Let’s incorporate plenty of soothing music into daily life for your baby and actively stimulate their five senses.

This time, we’ll introduce recommended songs, interactive play, and traditional nursery rhymes for 0-year-olds.

We’ve gathered many warm and cheerful songs.

Gaze into your baby’s eyes, show hand and mouth movements, and gently touch their body as you enjoy the music together.

[Age 0] Recommended songs for babies: A special feature on interactive play and traditional nursery rhymes (21–30)

Fururira~

[Baby Play] “Full Rila~” (from above) baby massage, baby exercises

Fururira~

This is an interactive song characterized by lyrics with a rain motif.

Hold the feet to the music and gently sway them left and right; while saying pitter-patter and whoosh-whoosh, touch the body to express the falling rain and provide sensory stimulation.

In addition to touching with your fingers, show the movement of your fingers to guide the baby’s gaze, and look into their eyes to send a message of love.

Looking into their eyes and touching their body triggers the release of oxytocin—the so-called “happiness hormone”—in the brain, enveloping both of you in a soothing, happy feeling.

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Vegetable Song

Vegetable Song (interactive play) Nen-ne [sleep time], ages 0 and up

Vegetable Song

It’s full of rich sensory elements: incorporating cooking motions like “kyu-kyu” for cucumbers and “ton-ton” for tomatoes, touching on smells with Chinese cabbage as “kusai kusaaai” (“so smelly”), and playing with sounds by changing “buu-buu-buu” for grapes.

It’ll be interesting to see how your child responds.

Since it features many names of vegetables and fruits, it’s also recommended as an introduction to food education.

By repeating it, your child might discover favorite phrases like “ton-ton-ton,” and more.

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apple, mandarin orange, bananaLyrics/Composition: Seiji Tanaka

Apple, Mandarin, Banana (Kids' Song Cover)

Apple, Mandarin, Banana Lyrics/Composition: Seiji Tanaka

This is a fun song with a fruit-themed, lively tune and a rhythmic melody.

It invites playful activities with children—clapping hands, swaying bodies, and pretending to eat fruit along with the song.

Sung by Kentaro Hayami and Ayumi Shigemori, it was broadcast on “Okaasan to Issho” starting in 1994 and was also included on the VHS “Super Hit 16.” It’s perfect not only for family bonding time at home but also for group fun in early childhood settings.

Enjoy playing with children while helping them learn the names of different fruits.

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laundry

Tactile play (clapping/interaction game): Sleepy time – Ages 0 and up

laundry

This song is a nursery rhyme and one of the interactive play activities that parents and children can enjoy from infancy.

While humming the song, mothers and fathers can hold their child and play together.

As you hold your child in your arms, gently rock them or give them a warm hug.

Being close to you and hearing your gentle voice will help your child feel secure and relaxed.

It’s a highly recommended interactive play activity that has been enjoyed for generations.

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Let's climb a big mountain.

Baby exercises: Let’s climb a big mountain!

Let's climb a big mountain.

“Let’s Climb the Big Mountain” is also a great exercise for babies.

It’s a song that lets babies, who can’t move freely on their own yet, move their bodies while caregivers sing and enjoy it together.

Lay your baby on their back and gently move their legs as you sing.

Move their legs as if climbing a mountain or swimming in the sea so your child can feel like they’re visiting a big mountain or a vast ocean.

Enjoy close contact with your baby and shower them with love.

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Squeezing rice balls

Squeezing rice balls

Squeezing rice balls

While matching the phrase “onigiri nigiri, nigirinco,” sway your hands left and right and gently squeeze your arms as you give a massage.

In the second verse, the lyrics change to “hokarinco,” so touch your own cheeks or mom’s cheeks to feel their warmth.

In the third verse, the lyrics change to “kororinco,” and you roll your body from side to side like turning over.

These varied stimuli can help promote sensory development, but if the baby’s neck is not yet stable, proceed with caution and do not push it.

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[Gymnastics] Animal Exercises

Tried dancing the Animal Exercise! [Dance] [1-year-olds] [Infants] [Daycare]

[Gymnastics] Animal Exercises

“Animal Exercises” is a routine where you act out various movements to match the animals mentioned in the lyrics.

For one-year-olds and younger, simply clapping along with the music or gently swaying their bodies is more than enough to express it adorably.

The key for teachers is to demonstrate with big, easy-to-see motions.

Watching the children imitate in their own way will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

To help everyone get used to the song and flow, it could be a good idea to make it part of the daily routine as practice.

The sight of little ones doing these cute exercises is a must-see!

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