A collection of cheerful nursery rhymes—songs that make you feel happy when you sing them.
There are so many nursery rhymes that are popular with children!
There are songs about animals, songs about food, songs about the seasons—the themes are varied, and each song has its own mood.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of especially cheerful songs from among the most popular nursery rhymes all at once!
We’ve gathered lots of songs that will put you in a happy mood whether you listen to them or sing along.
Please sample the songs we introduce below, and be sure to enjoy listening to and singing your favorites!
A collection of cheerful nursery rhymes: songs that make you feel happy when you sing them (1–10)
Picnic MarchNEW!Lyrics: Takao Ide / Music: Nobuyoshi Koshibe
A lively, energetic march that makes you look forward to walks and picnics! This piece, created by the golden duo of lyricist Takao Ide and composer Nobuyoshi Koshibe, is a beloved classic from NHK’s puppet show “Nikoniko, Pun.” The lyrics gently speak to your own feet, turning simple walking time into a special adventure that sparks children’s imaginations.
When you hear the buoyant marching rhythm, it feels like you’re parading across a field with everyone, doesn’t it? It’s the perfect track for pre-outing background music or for parent-child playtime.
Ghosts’ ChristmasTakashi Deguchi
It’s a humorous song that combines Halloween and Christmas.
Since it’s a song where kids can enjoy their favorite events together, it’s sure to get everyone excited.
Try singing it while adding fingerplay and dance! The tune is poppy and rhythmic, so it’s best sung brightly and energetically.
Acting out the various motifs in the lyrics—like ghosts and clocks—while you sing will lift the mood even more! Be sure to take this opportunity to sing it with the children.
Ghost Village MazeNontan and Friends
Let’s try singing a song themed around ghosts and mazes together with Nontan, the beloved character from picture books! From the mysterious-sounding intro, you can feel the excitement and suspense building, right? The melody is easy to remember and the tempo is comfortable to sing, so it seems perfect for kids.
The humorous lyrics expand the world you imagine in your head and are likely to spark children’s creativity! Various ghosts appear in the middle of the song, so it would be fun to play along with hand motions while pretending to turn into ghosts, too.
Halloween is not scary.Little Angel
I want to sing with children who feel scared by costumes and Halloween events! Sometimes things you see in shadows or dark places can look like ghosts, right? It might be especially helpful to watch an animation together with children who are afraid of ghosts.
A story where something that looked like a ghost in the shadows or a dark room turns out to be a doll or a toy by mistake can be reassuring.
Singing cheerfully and energetically together with parents or teachers could help everyone welcome Halloween with a happy feeling.
Green light from the blue sky
Known as a song from “With Daddy,” “Blue-Sky Go Sign” is a lovely track that gives the impression that once you take the leap, there are wonderful days waiting under the blue sky.
The blue sky feels like the start of a fun time, doesn’t it? It’s a song that’s enjoyable just to sing, so how about singing it while keeping rhythm with castanets or a tambourine? It also works great as a dance number—with lively choreography, it’s perfect for events like sports days.
Let's go to the forest.
When you want to feel like you’re in a forest, the perfect song is “Let’s Go to the Forest.” This warm, heartfelt song lets you feel the joy of playing in nature and the gentle comfort of the woods.
If you sing it while picturing the green trees, chirping birds, and the pleasant breeze, both the singer and the listeners will feel as if they’re actually in the forest.
The key is to sing each word clearly and brightly.
It’s a song full of charm that naturally brings joy—sing it with excitement, letting your body bounce to the rhythm, and you’ll find yourself having fun.
Picnic
With its lively, energetic rhythm, “Picnic” is a sprightly song that makes you want to start walking.
Ducks, goats, dogs, and pigs appear in the lyrics.
Try singing while imitating their animal sounds! If you ask the children what sounds each animal makes before singing, they’ll be able to enjoy the song more while understanding its meaning.
Since it’s a song about heading to the fun place that is a picnic, sing it brightly and cheerfully with the children.