[Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.

The Bento Box Song

[Hand Play] The Bento Lunch Box Song♪

A children’s song about making a bento.

Many of you probably remember it well, right? The ingredients that appear are rice balls and ginger, carrots, cherries, burdock root, butterbur, and shiitake mushrooms.

You can’t help but wish at least for a rolled omelet to be included.

Actually, there’s also a modern version of the song.

And what goes in it is—believe it or not—a sandwich.

It definitely feels tailored to the present day.

Still, the side dishes in that one are plain too.

.

.

By the way, both versions are popular as hand-play songs, and regardless of the side dishes, it’s still a favorite among children today!

The Curry Rice SongMinayo

Curry Rice Song | Food Song | Red Cat Reading

It’s a simple song that introduces how to make curry.

It follows the basic steps: sauté the ingredients, simmer them, then add the roux—so even if you’ve never made curry before, try cooking along as you listen.

It’s also fun to make curry with your kids while playing this song.

Personally, I only just learned about adding pepper at the very end, so I’d like to try that next time.

By the way, the part that says “pork” can be swapped for chicken or beef, so sometimes it’s sung as “meat.” Be warned: if you listen while you’re hungry, it might really get your stomach rumbling.

Fruit TarōYuichiro Hanada, Maya Nagata

Fruit Boy Taro (with Mother) – Song: NEUTRINO (with lyrics)

A whole bunch of different “Taros”—like Peach Taro, Banana Taro, Strawberry Taro, and Cherry Taro—show up, jostle each other shoulder to shoulder, and end up in tears.

Those tears mix together to become mixed juice and special juice in this energetic and humorous song.

This is “Kudamono Taro,” which appeared as the May 2022 monthly song on NHK’s Okaasan to Issho.

The lyrics and illustrations are by picture-book author Yume Okuhara, and the composition is by BearGround, also known for the music in the puppet show “Garapiko Pu.” With its vividly colorful visuals and upbeat, fun melody, it’s a track that really grabs children’s hearts!

Furu Furu Fruit

[Childcare] “Furu-Furu Fruits” Ages 2+ — Sports Day & Recital Dance [PriPri]

As the title suggests, the song features the names of many fruits.

It includes familiar ones like apples and peaches, as well as fruits children might not know yet, such as kiwis and papayas, so it’s very educational.

There’s also simple choreography that goes along with the song, so try learning it and dancing together.

It’s great for singing at home, and it would also be perfect to perform at a kindergarten or preschool recital.

It’s a highly recommended song because kids can move their bodies while building knowledge.

Ice Cream SongKoichi Hattori

Ice Cream Song

It’s a charming children’s song with a rhythm reminiscent of the background music you hear at Disneyland.

The sounds you make and feel while eating ice cream are expressed through mimetic and onomatopoeic words.

Listening to it just makes you crave ice cream!

Shopping at the bakeryUta’s mom and dad

Shopping at the Bakery [Mama and Papa of Songs] With Mother – Nursery Rhyme, Hand Play

Seeing all the breads lined up at the bakery makes you excited and wonder which one to choose, doesn’t it? This charming hand-play song sung by Uta no Mama Papa captures the fun of shopping at just such a bakery.

It features a parade of breads that kids love, like sandwiches and melon bread.

The lively back-and-forth with the shop clerk makes you feel as if you’re playing store together.

First released in January 2009, the song has been included in many collections of children’s songs, such as the album “Columbia Kids: With Children! With Grandchildren! Let’s Learn and Sing – Nursery Rhymes and Play Songs.” It’s perfect for singing along with hand motions as a parent and child, and also as background music for pretend play.

If you sing it with kids who love bread, everyday snack time will become even more fun!

Bento sausagesYuichiro Hanada, Maya Nagata

Obento Sausages ◆ Live-Action Dance | Okaasan to Issho | January 2024 Monthly Song / E-TV NHK

Obento Wiener is a fun song that depicts wieners anxiously waiting to see if they’ll be included in a field-trip lunchbox.

It was the January 2024 song on NHK’s Okaasan to Issho.

The lyrics and music were written by musician Wataru Hirano, who also contributes songs to other NHK children’s programs such as Inai Inai Baa! and Otousan to Issho.

The lyrics portray the wieners nervously waiting to find out whether they’ll be placed in the lunchbox along with other side dishes.

It’s a song that may spark children’s interest in food.