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 hand-clapping songs to enjoy in May! Perfect songs for the season of fresh greenery (51–60)
Let's draw a picture in the blue sky.Lyrics by Kazumi Itsuki / Music by Hajime Kamishiba
A song that paints a large ship in the blue sky and sings of an adventure to a new world is full of charm that richly nurtures children’s imaginations.
Along with energetic calls and cheers, its uplifting message that expands their hopes for dreams will surely resonate deeply in children’s hearts.
Beloved in kindergartens and nursery schools, this work shines in scenes where children sing together, such as at sports days and concerts.
Its structure, which lets children move their bodies joyfully while singing, is also a major appeal that enables everyone to have fun as one.
It is a cherished piece in childcare and educational settings.
Bamboo shoots are sprouting.children’s song
Through a traditional Japanese play song that evokes the arrival of spring, it gently wraps children’s hearts in warmth.
The key is choreography that engages the whole body—pressing both hands together above the head to show a sprout pushing up from the ground, or spreading both arms wide to mimic a flower in bloom.
The way it’s played varies slightly by region and has been passed down from parents to children.
It can be enjoyed not only as a hand game but also as a rock–paper–scissors game, making it popular among children in nursery schools and kindergartens.
Keeping rhythm while moving their hands and bodies, children naturally break into smiles.
This piece is a friendly song that eases the worries of children who feel anxious in new environments.
It is truly a perfect number for fostering children’s healthy growth and emotional richness.
Fruit TarōLyrics: Okuhara Yume / Music: Bearground
Here’s an energetic song also featured on NHK’s popular children’s program “Okaasan to Issho”: “Kudamono Taro.” The lyrics are by Yume Okuhara, who is also active as a picture book and children’s story author.
Spotlighting Momotaro, the boy born from a peach, and coming up with “Kudamono Taro,” a boy born from fruit, is just the sort of approach you’d expect from a fairy-tale writer.
In the program, fruits like bananas and cherries appear in colorful costumes, shaking their hips and doing playful shoving games, making it impossible to look away.
It’s perfect for May and the start of a new school term, where every child can be the star no matter which fruit they play.
A highly recommended song you can enjoy while moving your body.
The skylark sings.Lyrics by Kume Azuma / Music by Rentarō Taki
This song evokes the gentle atmosphere of spring and is truly perfect for the season around May.
The skylark mentioned in the title and lyrics is also said to be a bird that heralds spring.
Singing a song so full of spring might make you want to go look for skylarks or go see flowers that bloom in spring.
By the way, due to urbanization and the resulting decrease in green spaces like fields and meadows, skylarks have become difficult to spot nowadays.
It might be nice to try looking for them in a nature-rich place during Golden Week while singing this song.
Nursery Rhymes and Fingerplay Songs to Enjoy in May! Perfect Tunes for the Season of Fresh Greenery (61–70)
Warm and leisurely strollingLyrics by Hiroo Sakata / Music by Akihiro Komori
Warm, balmy May is the perfect season for a stroll, isn’t it? A song I recommend for such times is the children’s song “Poka Poka Teku Teku.” Its composer, Akihiro Komori, created many well-known children’s songs such as “Genkotsuyama no Tanuki-san” and “Obentō-bako no Uta.” This song describes marching along with friends on a sunny, beautiful day, swinging your arms and legs wide as you walk on and on.
Its poppy, lighthearted melody feels like it could keep your feet moving forever! It’s surprisingly fun to just wander endlessly with friends without deciding on a destination.
Be sure to sing this song and enjoy an unknown journey!
lazybonesnursery rhyme
The children’s song handed down in Saga Prefecture has horsetail shoots as its theme, heralding the arrival of spring.
The lyrics call out to the sprouts as they peek up from the soil.
There are many ways to enjoy it—swaying together as parent and child or playing with a cloth, for example.
Reflecting the local culture, it is a cherished tradition passed down across generations.
It also seems to encourage interaction with springtime nature and promote rhythm and language development.
Widely enjoyed by various ages in nursery schools and kindergartens, it is a lovely song that expresses hopes for children’s healthy growth.
one bamboo shootnursery rhyme
Perfect for the spring season, this song is a traditional children’s rhyme that has been loved for generations.
It features simple lyrics and a catchy melody, and its charm lies in the way children split into “oni” (tagger) and “takenoko” (bamboo shoot) roles to play.
Because kids move their bodies while singing, it’s great for developing a sense of rhythm and cooperation.
It’s also used in early childhood education, and there are videos on YouTube explaining how to play.
Sing and play energetically outdoors with family and friends, and you’re sure to enjoy the spring atmosphere even more.
Why not raise your voices together and feel the arrival of spring?