Children’s Songs You Can Sing in August: Summer-Friendly Kids’ Songs and Fingerplay Rhymes
Here are nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs for August that you can sing and enjoy! We’ve got a full lineup: songs that capture the fun of summer, tunes about tasty foods you’ll crave in the heat, and songs perfect for August events.
We also introduce tracks you can enjoy with fingerplays and dances, so try using them for indoor play during the sweltering summer or for activities in childcare settings.
Many are classic summer songs that have been passed down for generations, making them perfect for family time at home as well.
Teach children summer songs and enjoy a delightful time together while reminiscing about the past!
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[Children’s Songs You Can Sing in August] Summer-Friendly Kids’ Songs & Fingerplay Rhymes (91–100)
Mount FujiMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)
August 11 is Mountain Day, a national holiday established in 2016.
When it comes to songs about mountains, many people probably think of “Fujino-yama,” a piece about Mount Fuji, Japan’s most iconic mountain.
I imagine many of you also sang it during music class in elementary school.
It’s a song that evokes majestic nature—perfectly suited to Mount Fuji.
It's starting! (Summer ver.)
“Hajimaruyo” is a classic hand-play song at kindergartens and nurseries.
If you try singing it with summer-themed lyrics, you might boost the summer mood and have even more fun.
With one finger held up, the lyrics go from 1 to 5: 1 is a drum, 2 is a water gun, 3 is a shooting star, 4 is a fan, and 5—perfect for the finale—represents fireworks.
From festivals and water play to grand fireworks displays, these lyrics let you fully enjoy summer, and kids are sure to love it.
You can also add your own original verses to make it even more fun.
Camp da Hoi
This song is packed with the excitement of camping.
Its lyrics and melody are captivating, sparking children’s sense of wonder.
It vividly sings about experiences in nature—seeing mountains and rivers for the first time, swimming in the sea, and meeting new friends.
With strong educational value, it’s beloved by a wide range of children from preschoolers to elementary school students.
How about singing it together during summer camp or outdoor activities to liven things up? It’s sure to help create wonderful memories.
paprikaKenshi Yonezu
“Paprika” is an NHK 2020 cheer song performed by the dance unit Foorin.
It drew major attention because the lyrics and music were written by none other than Kenshi Yonezu.
He later released a self-cover version, and the song was also selected for NHK’s “Minna no Uta” for August–September.
It’s a popular dance number widely known among children, and many start dancing as soon as they hear the melody.
It’s a perfect song to sing at nursery and kindergarten performances or children’s events.
waves and seashellsLyrics by Michio Mado / Music by Yoshinao Nakata
Just hearing the title brings to mind the sparkling summer sea—“Waves and Shells,” a children’s song.
The lyrics were written by Mado Michio, the creator of many beloved nursery songs such as “Elephant” and “When I Become a First Grader.” Beaches are scattered with countless shells, aren’t they? Some are spiraled, some are beautifully colored—there are shells of all shapes and hues.
The song begins by wondering how they come to be.
Perhaps they’re formed by the movement of the waves and the play of light—this piece invites you to imagine and enjoy how shells take on their many forms and arrive at the shore.
straw hatLyrics by Yoshimi Sato / Music by Makoto Sato
In recent years, there have been many summers described as brutally hot, and both children and adults can’t go out without hats as a heat countermeasure.
When it comes to cute, stylish summer hats, it’s got to be the straw hat! In the past, they were associated with grandpas working in the fields, but these days there are so many adorable designs.
This song is told from a cicada’s point of view.
Loving the heat, the cicada flees from the cool trees where people wearing straw hats are resting.
It’s a humorous summer tune that kids are sure to enjoy.
Shiritori SongLyrics by Tarō Yokobue / Music by Shirō Kanenaga
This is a song that turns shiritori—a word game enjoyed by children and adults—into music.
The lyrics follow the rules of shiritori, so you can listen while imagining the next word.
This time, the theme is focused on “summer,” and choosing a theme to sing with makes it a fun play song.
It’s arranged for a round, so it would be great to master the piano accompaniment and sing along.