[For 3-year-olds] Songs to sing at nursery schools and kindergartens! Popular and recommended songs

The railroad tracks go on forever.Lyrics: Satoshi Sagi / Music: American folk song

The Railroad Tracks Go On Forever (with Movements) / I’ve Been Working on the Railroad [Japanese Song / Shoka]

It’s a children’s song that has been loved by people of all ages for a long time, with lyrics brimming with dreams and hope and a soaring, beautiful melody that lifts your spirits.

Its march-like rhythm, reminiscent of a locomotive charging ahead, makes it easy for train-loving kids to enjoy and sing with energy.

The song originally comes from the American folk tune “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” to which lyricist Saki Satoshi added Japanese lyrics.

It’s also fun to sing while lining up and moving forward like you’re playing train together!

aye-ayeLyrics by Hiromi Aida / Music by Seiichirō Uno

Ai Ai (with hand motions)

Ai Ai is a song about a little monkey, a character that often appears in children’s favorite picture books.

Lyricist Hiromi Aida wrote the lyrics after being asked to create a cute animal song and coming across the aye-aye, which lives on Madagascar, in an illustrated encyclopedia.

It’s perfect not only as a choral piece but also for school plays where a monkey character appears! To help children enjoy singing it even more with choreography, it might be nice to show them photos or illustrations and say, “This is the kind of monkey the song is about.”

Lots of heartsDaisuke Yokoyama / Takumi Mitani

@user15821878215964

Song of April 2012: Full of Hearts — Daisuke Yokoyama & Takumi MitaniFull of heartsDaisuke YokoyamaTakumi Mitani#Daisuke Onii-san#Takumi Onee-san#WithMotherApril 2012Song of the MonthUehara Risa#Risa Onee-sanDebut songinnocent; fresh; naive; inexperienced (in a charming way)

Original song – Hikaru Tamura – Hikaru Tamura

With gentle lyrics and a heartwarming melody, this song naturally conveys feelings of love to children.

“Hearts Everywhere,” which appeared on NHK’s Okaasan to Issho in April 2012, features lyrics by Toshiyuki Aoshima and music by Megumi Ohashi.

Its rhythmic, catchy style makes it easy to love even on the first listen.

The rhythm and melody are also perfect for parents and children to sing together.

The lyrics are filled with “hearts galore,” creating an atmosphere brimming with kindness.

It’s a cute and soothing song that makes you smile just by listening.

The whale is listening.Yuichiro Hanada, Maya Nagata

@okaitsu0936

#WithMotherSong of the Moon — May Song: “The Whale Is Listening 🐳”#WithMother#OkaItsuTsukika

♪ Original song – yoshi_ – okaitsu🌈✨ & Kazumuoniisan

A gentle ballad that feels very soothing, NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” Song of May 2024, “Kujira ga Kiiteiru” (The Whale Is Listening), is written and composed by Beautiful Hummingbird.

Beautiful Hummingbird is a duo consisting of vocalist Mitsuko Koike and guitarist Nobuaki Tabata.

With lyrics that depict the way sounds of nature connect—such as “the whale, the frog, and the wind are listening”—and a tender melody, the song gives a sense that everyone is connected.

The animation is by picture-book and animation artist Osamu Sakai, whose warm, picture-book-like visuals further enhance the song’s world.

Bibi-bi Beam!Yuichiro Hanada, Maya Nagata

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"Bibi Bi Beam! (2024.3/30)" This song lifts my spirits!!!#WithMotherFamily ConcertCutoutYuichiro Hanada#Nagatamaya#Kazumu SakumotoAkimoto Anzuki

♬ Original song – Noah 🕊🍀 [High school student who wants to study psychology] – Noah 🕊🍀 [High school student who wants to study psychology]

A song that makes you want to start dancing! Let me introduce “Bibi-Bi Beam!” From the very intro, an exciting melody kicks in, and the song begins with distinctive choreography—“Bibi-Bi Beam!” is sure to capture children’s interest.

Premiered in February 2024, the lyrics are by Nemuko Oikawa and the music is by Tsuyoshi Ike.

The catchy, energizing magic phrase will stick in your head.

Learn the dance and try it with your kids—it’s guaranteed to be a hit!

Toy Cha-Cha-Cha

“Toy Cha-Cha-Cha” (with choreography) [Japanese song / shoka]

The classic children’s song “Omocha no Cha-Cha-Cha” is an appealing piece with its bright rhythm and imaginative lyrics about toys coming to life at night.

Beyond being a dance tune, it can also be used for hand-play activities or as a theme for school performances.

Kids who love toys will be excited simply because the song and dance theme is “toys.” It would be fun to include choreography that lets them pretend to be toys and move freely.

It’s a highly recommended song that draws out children’s imagination.

stroll

My Neighbor Totoro ~Stroll~ [Original Choreography] Sports Day Dance / Recital Dance for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens

Sampo, the opening theme of Studio Ghibli’s film My Neighbor Totoro released in 1988, is a hugely popular song among children of every generation.

Its bright rhythm that makes you want to start walking, along with lyrics that seem to capture the joys kids discover on a stroll, make singing it feel like going on an adventure! The song is also popular as a dance tune, so it’s fun to come up with choreography that matches the words and try dancing to it.

Perfect as BGM or for dances at school sports days!