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 (1–10)
Sticky Samba
With its catchy tune that sticks in your head after just one listen, “Neba-Neba Samba” features melodies and lyrics that make you want to dance.
Along with the lyrics about “neba-neba” (sticky/slimy), lots of foods that evoke that texture appear.
It might be fun to imagine them and see how many you can find.
From around age two, it’s also recommended to ask questions like, “What kinds of sticky foods are there?” It could be enjoyable to include the song as part of summer food education as well.
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.
Yaho-ho
Lyrics that call out like “Yah-ho-ho!” are so much fun to sing, aren’t they? Some children might call out with energetic voices.
In those moments, try replying with a cheerful “Yah-ho!” like an echo—it makes things even more fun and is highly recommended.
Enjoy varying the volume of your voice, making it louder and softer.
Open your palms and add a motion as if you’re raising them toward the sun while you sing.
And at the end, try singing even more energetically!
Nursery rhymes to sing in July: Fun summer songs (11–20)
Ice Cream Song
Characterized by an up-tempo melody and fun, bubbly lyrics, “The Ice Cream Song” was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta and Okaasan to Issho.
Since it centers on ice cream, which kids love, there are probably many children who adore this song.
Oh, the ranch is green.
Let’s move our bodies to the rhythm! Here are some ideas for “Oh, the Meadow is Green.” These ideas are perfect for summer, when the weather is nice and the air is crisp.
They’re especially recommended if you’re thinking, “What song should we sing this month?” or “I’m looking for something with a good rhythm!” The song “Oh, the Meadow is Green” is the Japanese version of the folk song “Ach, synku, synku”/“Ach, krásná louka” (often known in English as “Ah, Lovely Meadow”), which has been sung for a long time in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
By adding some choreography, you can enjoy engaging with the music even more.
Story Finger
Something kids are sure to love! Here are some ideas for “Ohanashi Yubisan.” On hot summer days, you probably spend more time indoors, right? We recommend using “Ohanashi Yubisan” as an introduction before physical play, picture books, or craft activities.
Children will be captivated by the movements and singing of teachers or parents, and their attention will naturally gather.
Another nice benefit is that they can learn the names of their fingers while playing! Give it a try.
The fish jumps.
A refreshing hand game! Let me share some ideas for “Sakana ga Hanete” (Fish Jumping).
When you think of summer, many people probably imagine watersides like rivers and the sea, right? This is a unique fish-themed hand game you’ll want to use before fish-related crafts or dances.
Before starting the game, it could be fun to ask the children how they would react if a fish suddenly jumped—boing!—out of the water.
In this playful activity, fish hop onto different parts of the body and stick there, then keep transforming one after another—such a unique hand game!