Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season
May is the season when fresh green leaves shine brightly and playing outside becomes so much fun.
On walks, you can hear many little birds and feel the pleasant breeze, which lifts your spirits.
At times like that, why not spend the moment singing children’s songs that let you feel the joys of spring?
We’re introducing many songs—from ones that capture the comfortable feeling of May to tunes perfect for spring field trips and fun outings.
Let’s sing children’s songs that you can enjoy together with May’s nature—everyone with friends and family!
- [Children’s Songs] Let’s Sing of Spring! A Fun Collection of Nursery Rhymes, Folk Songs, and Children’s Songs
- [Children’s Songs for June] Fun finger-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes perfect for the rainy season
- Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes for March: fun spring hand-play songs.
- [For Children] Recommended Nursery Rhymes and Traditional Children’s Songs to Sing in April
- Nursery rhymes I want to sing in July: fun summer songs
- Children’s songs to sing on a rainy day / children’s songs with a rain theme
- I want to sing it at the senior class recital! A choral piece that 5-year-olds can sing with all their heart
- A collection of cheerful nursery rhymes—songs that make you feel happy when you sing them.
- Children’s Songs You Can Sing in August: Summer-Friendly Kids’ Songs and Fingerplay Rhymes
- A collection of classic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs for September! Enjoy autumn with your child through songs.
- [Childcare] Summer songs: Full of fun! Summer nursery rhymes & finger-play songs
- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- [Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Perfect songs for the season of fresh greenery (71–80)
Let's go to the zoo.Lyrics: Yoji Umino / Music: T. Paxton
May has pleasant weather, and many kindergartens and nursery schools go on field trips.
If you’re heading to the zoo, we recommend the song “Let’s Go to the Zoo”! This song, which has been aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” and “Okaasan to Issho,” is based on “Goin’ to the Zoo” by American singer-songwriter Tom Paxton.
The lyrics describe going to the zoo and spotting lots of animals, and they also include animal sounds, so children can enjoy singing it like a wordplay game.
Sing the song and head to the zoo to look for the animals that appear in the lyrics!
Toy Cha-Cha-ChaLyrics by Akiyuki Nosaka / Music by Nobuyoshi Koshibe
When it comes to things kids absolutely love, toys are at the top of the list! On Children’s Day, many children probably get their favorite toys as gifts.
Here’s a perfect toy-themed song for such a day! Interestingly, it wasn’t originally a children’s song, and the lyrics were different from what they are now.
It was later remade as a nursery rhyme, and that’s the version still sung today.
There’s also an English version called “Toys Dance The Cha Cha Cha,” so curious kids can give it a listen and practice their English at the same time!
koinobori (carp streamers)Lyrics: Unknown / Music: Ryutaro Hirota
Koinobori are carp streamers that symbolize Children’s Day in May.
Among the songs about koinobori is “Koinobori,” composed by Ryutaro Hirota.
It’s a different koinobori song from “Koinobori” that sings of parent and child carp swimming in the sky.
Although the lyrics use slightly difficult words, the content itself portrays the features of carp streamers swimming through the sky and the surrounding scenery.
From their wide-open mouths to their gently swaying tail fins, the lyrics depict their splendid traits and convey the strength and bravery of koinobori that won’t be defeated by strong winds or even great waterfalls.
Be sure to sing this “Koinobori” as well on Children’s Day!
one bamboo shootnursery rhyme
Takenoko Ippon is a game themed around bamboo shoots, which are in season in spring.
Players split into two roles: the oni (tagger) who pulls out the bamboo shoot, and the bamboo shoots themselves.
The game starts with the oni’s call.
In response to the chant, “Give me X bamboo shoots,” the players acting as bamboo shoots react.
If the oni manages to pull someone out of the line and separate them, they take that person back to their side.
The game lets kids enjoy a variety of movements, like clinging to teachers or friends or being carried.
Try this unique game both indoors and outdoors.
a big drumLyrics by Junichi Kobayashi / Music by Yoshinao Nakata
The steadily resounding drumbeats can be a little startling, but they’re exciting, aren’t they? The children’s song “Big Drum” almost makes you feel like you can hear those fun drum sounds.
It sings about playing a big drum and a small drum, and you enjoy it with dynamics—singing loudly for the big drum parts and softly for the small drum parts.
It’s great as a hand-play song, pretending to beat the drums while you sing! In warm, energetic May, try singing it as if you’re joyfully playing the drums.
scarecrowMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)
It seems that this song is actually a Ministry of Education school song published in 1911 (Meiji 44) in the Elementary School Songbook for the second grade.
The theme of the song is the scarecrow used to drive away pests like crows from rice fields and vegetable patches.
Thanks to this song, there are probably quite a few people named Yamada who ended up with the nickname “Scarecrow.” These days, there may even be children who don’t know what a scarecrow is.
shoulder tapLyrics by Yaso Saijō / Music by Shinpei Nakayama
A song themed around a shoulder massage that will make your mom happy on Mother’s Day.
It describes gently tapping your mother’s shoulders to the rhythm.
The lyrics also notice the changes in your mother as you massage her, as well as the seasonal changes around the home.
While singing this warm, heartfelt song, why not actually give your mom a shoulder massage as a Mother’s Day gift to express your everyday gratitude? She’s sure to be delighted!