Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs

Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with

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.
Nursery Teacher Mom WriterMoe Tsukada
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

When you hear “songs for January,” what kinds of tunes come to mind?

There are many, from those often sung in childcare settings and schools to classic pieces that have been loved in Japan for many years.

Here, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes and hand-play songs that you’ll want to enjoy with children in January.

Everyone has different experiences with the songs they’ve grown up with, so try talking about them with your family and friends.

You might even come across some songs for the first time.

These are all songs that can be enjoyed across generations and that we’d love to pass on to the children who will shape the next generation.

[January Songs] Nursery Rhymes and Finger-Play Songs for Children to Enjoy (11–20)

snowLyrics by: San Mukasa / Composer: Unknown

PINKFONG’s fingerplay nursery rhyme ♪ “Snow” ★Yuki ya Konko★

Snow Lyrics: Mikasa San / Composer: Unknown

Winter really makes you want to have fun playing in the snow, doesn’t it? Let’s sing the children’s song “Yuki” and add hand motions to make that feeling grow even more! Flutter your hands to show the snow falling more and more, or clap along to the rhythm.

You can freely express how the snow is falling! You could also act out a dog happily playing, or a cat curled up inside the kotatsu.

Try playing while thinking, “How about this movement? What about that one?”

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Nazuna Nanakusachildren’s song

Nazuna Nanakusa, Nanakusa Bayashi, children's song

Nanakusa Nazuna Nursery Rhyme

It’s a traditional folk song/children’s song that has been sung since long ago when cooking the seven herbs of spring.

The seven herbs are seri (water dropwort), nazuna (shepherd’s purse), gogyo (cudweed), hakobera (chickweed), hotokenoza (henbit), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (daikon radish).

These seven herbs are prepped on the evening of January 6 and then added to rice porridge the next morning to make nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb porridge).

You may see nanakusa-gayu served in school lunches or enjoyed at home.

When learning about the seven herbs with children, it’s also recommended to learn this song together.

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Mr./Ms. North WindLyrics: Tamami Kowase / Music: Yoshinao Nakata

[Children's Song] Mr. North Wind (with lyrics) / Lyrics by Tamami Kowase, Music by Yoshinao Nakada, Arrangement by Shiro Hayakawa / Winter, Nature / Piano Accompaniment, Singing with Piano

Lyrics by Kitakaze-san: Tamami Kowase / Music by Yoshinao Nakata

A song that gently personifies the winter wind is full of charm that makes it easy for children to connect with.

The lyrics, which liken the sound of the north wind to a violin and a whistle, are striking and evoke the beauty of winter’s nature.

Created by Tamami Kowase and Yoshinao Nakata, this piece is a popular children’s song often sung in kindergartens and nursery schools.

Its warm atmosphere, which can make hearts feel cozy even in the cold season, is appealing, and it’s a lovely song that helps children sense the changing seasons.

If you sing it together as a family, you’re sure to have a wonderful time!

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Children are like the wind.Lyrics/Composition: Children's Song

Child of the wind

Children Are Children of the Wind Lyrics/Music: Children's Song

Watch “Kodomo wa Kaze no Ko (Children Are Children of the Wind) Lyrics/Composition: Children's Song” on YouTube

This is a nursery rhyme about children who energetically run around and play outside, unfazed by the cold wind.

It seems to reflect adults’ wishes for kids to stay active and play outdoors even in the cold winter.

It’s a nursery rhyme that might give you a dose of the children’s energy that blows the cold away.

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When it becomes a festive time, it's New YearLyrics and Music by: Aramaki Shake

[January/Winter hand play] Recommended by childcare workers! New Year’s game “Medetai nattara Oshōgatsu~♪” nursery rhyme, A Happy New Year

When It's Time to Celebrate, It's New Year's DayLyrics/Composition: Aramaki Shake

How about trying a New Year’s hand-play song with your child? This hand-play song, “Medetai Nattara Oshogatsu,” expresses essential New Year’s osechi dishes through poses.

The lyrics stay the same, but the dish is represented by the pose you strike at the end.

It features ozoni, kuromame, and kurikinton—osechi dishes kids love—and really boosts the New Year spirit.

Both the song and the poses are very simple, so even young children can imitate them and enjoy playing along.

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mochi poundingLyrics: Chou Amano / Music: Michiko Ichimiya

[Hand Play Song] New Year's Mochi Pounding with Lyrics — Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs (Children's Songs and Hand Play)

Mochitsuki Lyrics by: Amano Cho / Music by: Ichinomiya Michiko

Mochi eaten in January is delicious, isn’t it? “Mochitsuki” is a song you can use for a hand game.

Two people face each other and, following the lyrics, make mochi-pounding gestures or keep the rhythm by clapping and lightly tapping hands.

It’s a hand game that even small children can do right away, so be sure to try it during the New Year holiday.

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[January Songs] Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to become familiar with (21–30)

Masterpieces to listen to in January.

Were there any songs you found yourself wanting to listen to in January? In fact, there are still plenty more I want you to hear! From here, I’ll introduce a collection of children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes that I haven’t had the chance to feature yet. They’re all timeless classics that have been passed down through the years.

The Song of KonkonshyanLyrics by: Yoshiko Kayama / Music by: Akira Yuyama

Kids Song | Kon Kon Kushan Song | Nursery Rhyme | Children's Song | Red Cat Reading

Song of Konkonkushan Lyrics: Yoshiko Kayama / Music: Akira Yuyama

This is a song that evokes winter and was also sung on NHK’s educational program “Okaasan to Issho.” In the title “Konkonkushan no Uta,” konkon represents coughing and kushan represents sneezing.

The cute lyrics go on: when a squirrel wears a mask, it’s a small mask; when a crane wears a mask, it’s a long mask; when a pig wears a mask, it’s a round mask.

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It’s a perfect song for teaching children the importance of cold prevention, such as handwashing and gargling.

Imagining each animal’s distinctive mask somehow puts you in a cheerful mood.

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