[Childcare] Fun Songs for 2-Year-Olds to Sing! Recommended Song Collection

Let's move forward! Clap your hands!

Let's Move Forward! Clap Your Hands! ~Tie-in Song for the Movie “Shimajiro and the Rainbow Oasis”~ [Official Shimajiro Channel]

This bright and lively song is a heartwarming piece themed around the courage to move forward and the bonds of friendship.

Structured so you can sing along while clapping to the rhythm, it embraces the anxiety and fear of taking steps ahead as natural feelings, while conveying the importance of overcoming them.

The desire to cherish friendships and hope for the future is expressed through a gentle melody.

Used as an insert song in the film Shimajiro and the Rainbow Oasis (released in March 2017) from the series Shimajiro no Wao! The Movie, it colors the adventures of Shimajiro and his friends.

It’s a perfect song to enjoy with children while moving their bodies, whether during group time at nursery and kindergarten or at home!

Yakiimo goo-choki-paLyrics: Hiroo Sakata / Music: Naozumi Yamamoto

Yaki-imo Rock-Paper-Scissors (with actions) ♪ Roasted sweet potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, my tummy goes grr~ ♪ [Hand play / Children's song]

This is a fun song that captures the toasty, warm feeling of roasted sweet potatoes.

While mimicking the motions with your hands, children can also learn about rock–paper–scissors.

For two-year-olds, don’t focus on winning or losing—just enjoy calling out the cues and showing rock, paper, and scissors.

When the teacher has fun, the children will naturally imitate.

Since this is a song that emphasizes movement, it’s helpful to have one teacher demonstrate for the children.

Try preparing a CD or finding an accompanist to add some variety.

A Little Bear in the RainLyrics: Masao Tsurumi / Music: Akira Yuyama

Rainy Day Bear Cub

This is a cute song that depicts a rainy scene and the little bear’s actions.

The melody is calm and relaxed, so children will be able to sing freely.

The lyrics are a bit complex for two-year-olds, so it would be nice for the teacher to sing it repeatedly so everyone can enjoy it together.

It’s also recommended to create a sketchbook theater or panel theater so the scenes can be understood visually.

Let’s all enjoy the sound of the stream and the little bear’s motions as it looks for fish.

Why not incorporate it during the rainy season?

Ehomaki, yum!gaagaaS

[Hand Play • Setsubun] Ehōmaki Amuu / gaagaaS – Childcare, February, Ehōmaki, Play Song, Parenting, Children's Song

“Ehōmaki Amū” is a fun song that lets children enjoy learning about the Setsubun tradition.

The lyrics cutely express the act of eating ehōmaki with the sound “amu.” Because you can sing it while doing hand motions, even two-year-olds can learn it quickly.

Paired with gaagaaS’s catchy style, it’s sure to become a memorable song for kids.

If teachers sing it cheerfully during the Setsubun season, children will naturally imitate them.

You can also incorporate the action of facing the lucky direction, adding an educational element that makes learning about directions enjoyable.

Teacher and friendsLyrics by: Osamu Yoshioka / Music by: Nobuyoshi Koshibe

Sensei and Friends by Himawari 🌻 / With Lyrics | Children's Song for Starting School and Moving Up a Grade | Sensei to Otomodachi | Let’s Make Friends with Your Teacher

“Sensei to Otomodachi” (“Teachers and Friends”) is a fun song that children can sing with smiles.

The lyrics describe holding hands and greeting teachers and friends, so kids can sing energetically with gestures.

It’s a song that eases the anxieties of children who are nervous about new environments, making it perfect for the start of school or moving up a grade.

As children sing and interact with their teachers and friends, it naturally helps them become closer.

With lyrics by Osamu Yoshioka and music by Nobuyoshi Koshibe, it features a bright, easy-to-remember melody characteristic of traditional children’s songs.