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

Yokai ShiritoriLyrics by: Okuhara Yume / Music by: Tane Tomoko

Youkai Shiritori / With Mother (Covered by UtaSuta) [Cute Ghost Animation]

The yokai challenge the so-called “Yokai Professor,” who supposedly knows everything about monsters, to a shiritori showdown.

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Set to a slightly eerie minor key and a thumping, resonant bassline, the rapid-fire, rhythmic string of yokai names somehow makes your heart race with excitement.

From the smug opening that screams confidence, you can gradually see them getting cornered and flustered, and when they finally lose and sulk, the yokai are irresistibly cute and endearing.

It’s a song you’ll want to sing together while bantering with your kids.

Ms. Himawari

Himawari-san by Himawari 🌻 with Lyrics | Summer Children's Song |

Sunflowers, with their large yellow blossoms facing the sun, are uplifting just to look at, aren’t they? How about singing this sunflower-themed song, “Himawari-san,” together with the children? Its slow, gentle melody is easy to get familiar with, and the many repeated lyrics make it simple even for younger kids to remember—one of its charms.

When everyone sings, try forming a sunflower shape with both hands or stretching tall and singing up toward the sky; it’s a great way to nurture children’s expressive skills, so it’s highly recommended.

If you sing with big smiles and lots of energy, their hearts and bodies may grow quickly—just like summer sunflowers!

Row the boat

[Song] Rowing the Boat – Summer Song, Nursery Rhyme, Children's Song ♪

We’d like to introduce the hand-play song “Ofune o Koide,” which is perfect for keeping things fun and cheerful even in the hot summer.

Moving in a way that feels like you’re rowing a boat to a pleasant rhythm naturally brings smiles to everyone’s faces.

The lyrics convey scenes like swaying waves and blowing wind, letting you feel as if you’re actually out at sea on an adventure.

It also sounds fun to sit facing a friend, hold hands, and do it together! Adding a sound effect like “Splash!” between sections of the song will make it even more exciting.

Give it a try for inspiration!

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.

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.

The Goldfish’s Nap

Goldfish’s Nap ♪ [Children’s song / nursery rhyme] Cute goldfish in a red kimono ~ with lyrics animation / Japanese kids song

The relaxed song “Goldfish’s Nap” is a popular children’s nursery rhyme.

If you sing it as a lullaby at nap time, some kids find it so soothing that they fall asleep right away.

The gentle movements of the goldfish—and the moments when it seems to pause completely—are adorable and make it feel as if the goldfish itself is napping.

The lyrics are easy to remember, so if you sing it repeatedly, children can sing along.

It’s also recommended to sing it together with a picture book that features goldfish.

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!