[Children’s Songs for June] Fun finger-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes perfect for the rainy season

front teeth of a mouse

Kasama Tomobe Tomobe Kindergarten Child-Rearing Information: “Hand Play and Song Play Vol. 34 — The Mouse’s Front Teeth.”

June has Toothbrushing Week, so “Mouse’s Front Teeth” is the perfect children’s song.

It tells the story of a mouse whose front teeth chip away one by one, and kids can learn about numbers increasing and decreasing through a fun hand game.

When it gets down to the last tooth, the song also carries a message about the importance of brushing, so sing it with children who dislike brushing to help convey how important teeth are.

Mice are rodents whose front teeth grow back even if they chip, but humans only get one set of replacement teeth—after that, they don’t grow back—so it’s important to teach children to take good care of their teeth.

loquat

[Children's Song] Biwa ♪

Loquat, a fruit well known for ripening during the rainy season, takes center stage in this children’s song.

When we usually think of loquats we picture the orange flesh of the fruit, but this song also describes the stage before the fruit forms and the sprouting of the leaves, giving us a clear sense of how loquats come into being.

A frog

Finger play: One Little Frog

It’s a simple hand-play song where you move your hands along to a song featuring frogs.

The choreography is very easy, so even young children can learn it and have fun.

What’s more, it starts with one frog, then gradually increases to two, three, and so on.

If you make the movements bigger to match the growing number of frogs, the children will be absolutely delighted!

Rainy hand play—let’s toss all that damp dreariness away!

[June Rain Hand Play] Let's toss the damp, muggy feeling away! ≪Must Read≫ If using in childcare, be sure to check the notes below. Lyrics/Music: Boku to Kimi.

Let’s brighten up the damp, rainy-season mood with a lighthearted song and hand play.

The hand-play song “Toss Away the Damp and Dreary!” features fun gestures for gathering up the clammy feeling when the rain keeps falling and the sogginess when you get soaked.

The lyrics even end with collecting the rain clouds themselves, which is delightful and sure to get the kids excited.

Rain, rain, go away.

Rain Rain Go Away | Children's Song | Super Simple Japanese

When the pesky rain keeps you from going out to play anywhere, “Ame Ame Atchi Ike” is just the thing.

As the title suggests, it honestly expresses the feeling of asking the bothersome rain to “go away, please!” The English version is titled “Rain, Rain, Go Away,” a traditional children’s song from the UK.

There’s a spot in the lyrics where you can add a person’s name, so try singing it with your own name or the name of someone who also wants to go play outside.

Although it’s a song about disliking the rain, its catchy, pop melody gives it a fun vibe, so you can enjoy singing it indoors—maybe with some simple instruments—until the rain lets up!

early-rising clock

Nursery Rhyme: Early Rising Clock — Noriko Watanabe

June 10 is designated as Time Memorial Day in Japan, marking the first time a bell was rung to announce the time in the country.

It commemorates the day time was signaled, and also serves to promote valuing time.

How about introducing Time Memorial Day to children by sparking their interest in time with the song “Hayaoki Dokei” (Early-Rising Clock)? This song, released in 1937, has lyrics by Kaoru Tomihara and music by Koyo Kawamura, known for “Ureshii Hinamatsuri” and “Kamome no Suiheisan.”

Let's brush our teeth.

[Children’s Song] Let’s Brush Our Teeth

Since June has Cavity Prevention Day, many daycare centers and kindergartens provide guidance on brushing teeth and cavities.

The children’s song “Let’s Brush Our Teeth” is a cute, upbeat tune about brushing.

Many children resist brushing, but singing a fun song while doing it might help them brush more comfortably.

The song also mentions rinsing, making it perfect for practicing rinsing after brushing.

Don’t forget to praise your child with a “Your teeth are so clean!” Let’s enjoy brushing teeth together with your child.