Nursery rhymes I want to sing in July: fun summer songs

When the Dock (Japanese knotweed) blooms

Children’s song: When Sorrel Blooms (Skampo no Saku Koro) — Lyrics by Hakushū Kitahara, Music by Kōsaku Yamada

Let me introduce “When the Dock Blooms,” a song with a gentle melody and a bright tempo.

It’s a song about a flower called sukanpo (dock) that blooms in spring.

This warm children’s song evokes nostalgia, depicting children playing happily and energetically in the fields.

Because it includes repeated phrases that help you feel the season, even children around two years old can enjoy joining in.

Of course, it’s also a soothing piece for babies from 0 years old to listen to.

Be sure to try singing it with your children.

Water Gun Song

Let's Sing the Water Gun Song!! [Seasonal Song]

Let me introduce a fingerplay for “The Water Gun Song,” perfect for water play or before getting into the pool.

This lively song lets kids feel the unique fun and sense of freedom of summertime water play.

The motion of pretending your fingers are a water gun and going “pew-pew” helps develop fingertip dexterity, imagination, and a sense of rhythm.

The tempo is slow, so even younger children can enjoy joining in.

Various plants and flowers like dahlias and maple leaves appear in the song, so showing real examples or photos may help children picture them more easily.

It’s also fun to swap in familiar plants and playground equipment from your schoolyard into the lyrics.

Give it a try!

ice cream

Ice Cream [Hand Play] Let's Make Ice Cream! A Perfect Hand Play for Summer ♩

Ice cream that both kids and adults love! It tastes especially good in the hot summer, doesn’t it? Here’s a hand-play activity themed around ice cream.

In this activity, the song includes hand motions like mixing ingredients such as milk and eggs and cooling them, so children can enjoy it as if they’re playing make-believe, which nurtures their imagination.

It’s perfect for food education, too.

We also recommend expanding the play by making different flavors based on the children’s requests—like strawberry, chocolate, grape, or melon! Give it a try and make some delicious ice cream together!

Let's go to the forest.

Let's Go to the Forest (Children's Song)

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.

Morning on the Ranch

Morning on the Ranch

It is said that the lyrics of “Morning on the Ranch” were written with Iwase Farm in Kagamiishi, Fukushima Prefecture as their model.

The lyrics depict the ranch at daybreak, shrouded in mist, interweaving scenes of sound and light along with the people working on the ranch and the sheep.

Describing how morning arrives on the wide ranch and a new day begins, the song’s lyrics are also included in elementary school textbooks.

Asking children what kinds of animals might be on a ranch, or explaining the kinds of work people do there, may help them form a clearer image of the piece.

A quiet lakeside

Quiet Lakeside [Children’s Song / School Song] Chorus Animation / Japanese song

“Shizukana Kohan” (Quiet Lakeside) is a German folk song to which Keizo Horiuchi added Japanese lyrics.

Its gentle tempo and catchy, memorable melody make it popular with children, who sing it cheerfully and with enthusiasm.

Because it’s a beloved song, many people of all ages know it, which is another reason it’s so enjoyable.

Forming a circle and holding hands while singing with the children can create a sense of unity and make it even more fun.

Since it’s a bright, lively tune, it’s also recommended for summer events.

wind chime

wind chime

Hearing the sound of wind chimes in the hot summer gives you a sense of elegance, doesn’t it? With its relaxed tempo and gentle lyrics, “Wind Chimes” is a pleasant children’s song that evokes the feeling of summer.

It’s also great to sing while holding a baby for a nap or when they start to cry.

Showing what an actual wind chime looks like can make it easier to imagine the lyrics, too.

Try singing this wind chime song with children to make the summer heat feel cooler.

It might even become a song that reminds you of your summer memories.