Nursery rhymes I want to sing in July: fun summer songs
July, the beginning of summer, is hot but such a fun season, isn’t it?
How about singing joyfully in the hot summer to blow the heat away?
To prevent kids from getting heatstroke, spending time indoors singing fun songs is also recommended!
Here, we’ve gathered classic children’s songs and ones often sung at nurseries and kindergartens.
There are songs you can enjoy with hand play, too.
There are lots of songs children love, so sing and play together and feel the summer!
You can have a great time at home as well.
Use this as a guide so both kids and adults can have fun together!
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Nursery rhymes to sing in July: Fun summer songs (91–100)
School of Medaka
This song uses the unique onomatopoeic expression “tsui-tsui” to depict medaka fish swimming leisurely.
The lyrics liken a school of medaka in the river to students and a teacher, sparking children’s imaginations.
First broadcast in March 1951 on an NHK program for young children, it has been beloved by many ever since.
In 1952, a record featuring a performance by Aiko Anzai received the Arts Festival Award.
On a hot summer day, singing it while picturing medaka gliding through a cool river is sure to refresh both body and mind.
Why not sing it together as a family and appreciate the beauty of nature and the importance of living creatures?
From inside the cabbage
A recommended hand-play song for kids: “From Inside the Cabbage.” The creature that comes out of the cabbage is a caterpillar.
For people who grow vegetables it’s a pest, but many children like them since they turn into butterflies when they grow up.
During summer vacation, some kids may have observed a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
In this song, a family of caterpillars appears, and at the end they become butterflies.
It’s a simple, easy-to-remember song, and there’s a hand-play routine using both hands—so be sure to give it a try!
Nursery rhymes to sing in July: fun summer songs (101–110)
tomato
Tomatoes are in season in summer! Their bright red color is so cute! There are big tomatoes and tiny cherry tomatoes, and besides red, there are also yellow and orange ones.
This is a song about those adorable tomatoes.
It has a cute name that reads “tomato” whether you read it from the top or the bottom.
When they’re small, they wear blue clothes, and when they grow up, they wear red—so stylish! Sing the tomato song and enjoy lots of sweet-and-sour, delicious tomatoes!
Banana Parent and Child
When it comes to popular songs from “Okaasan to Issho,” this one stands out.
Its lyrics personify a family of bananas, playfully depicting the everyday lives of Papa Banana, Mama Banana, and Little Banana.
Set on a southern island, you can almost picture the bananas swaying in the breeze.
Since its release in 2001, it has captivated children without letting go.
Its charm lies in the poppy, catchy melody that makes it fun for parents and kids to sing together.
It’s perfect for singing indoors to cool off on a hot summer day.
Add some hand motions or get into the spirit of being a banana, and it becomes even more enjoyable.
It’s also an ideal song for nurturing children’s vocabulary and sense of rhythm.
Gorilla Song
The children’s song “Gorilla no Uta” (Gorilla Song) features lyrics by Maya Uekubo and music by Akira Mine.
It’s a unique tune that depicts a gorilla in Africa happily pounding its chest and eating bananas.
Adults might wonder, “So what’s the point?” but kids love simple songs like this! There isn’t any set choreography, so have fun in your own way—imitate a gorilla’s voice or pretend to eat a banana! Even simple movements are fun when everyone does them together!
The dolphin goes splish-splash.
‘Iruka wa Zanburako’ was originally composed for the NHK Educational TV music program ‘One-Two-Don.
‘ With a bright waltz rhythm, it’s a song popular among children.
The lyrics are very amusing, full of puns that delight kids, making it a very fun piece.
Song of the cicada
“The Song of the Cicada” playfully captures all sorts of cicada moments, a hallmark of summer.
In summer, their calls can be heard everywhere: while the heat feels even harsher to adults, for children they spark excitement—Where are they calling from? I want to catch one! The lyrics were written by Yoshimi Sato, also known for the children’s song “The Policeman Dog.” The song tells of how hard it is to spot a tiny cicada perched on a big tree, yet how its loud call gives it away.
It’s a perfect children’s song for July, when the cicadas’ chorus begins.