[Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.
Kids love to sing!
Singing is a form of exercise, nurtures interest in language, and helps develop expressiveness and a sense of rhythm.
It’s also said that singing releases “happy hormones,” making it effective for relieving stress.
Bring plenty of music into daily life and sing freely together with your children.
This time, we’re introducing popular children’s songs we’d love you to sing and play with your kids!
We’ve collected everything from classic nursery rhymes passed down through the years to the latest hit songs.
You can search songs by category—animals, vehicles, food, and more—so you’re sure to find the perfect tune for your children.
If you add simple choreography or hand-play motions as well as singing, the kids will be thrilled!
Be sure to explore a variety of nursery rhymes and enjoy happy times with your children!
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Winter Songs (1–10)
Hey, Santa Claus grandpaNEW!Lyrics by Tonbo Yuasa / Music by Hirotaka Nakagawa
It’s a fun song that asks, from a child’s unique perspective, what Santa Claus did when he was little.
With lyrics by Tombo Yuasa and music by Hirotaka Nakagawa, the song is included on the album “Tonbo-sensei no Wakuwaku Shūkai” and has long been loved in early childhood education settings.
Its appeal lies in the easy-to-sing melody and gentle wording, and the piano accompaniment is arranged simply.
The lyrics, filled with warmth and anticipation for Santa, perfectly capture how children feel as they look forward to Christmas.
It’s ideal for Christmas events at kindergartens and nurseries, as well as for family time at home.
Sing it together, and you’re sure to make even more happy Christmas memories.
Hey, Santa Claus grandpaNEW!Lyrics by Tonbo Yuasa / Music by Hirotaka Nakagawa
It’s a fun song that asks, from a child’s unique perspective, what Santa Claus did when he was little.
With lyrics by Tombo Yuasa and music by Hirotaka Nakagawa, the song is included on the album “Tonbo-sensei no Wakuwaku Shūkai” and has long been loved in early childhood education settings.
Its appeal lies in the easy-to-sing melody and gentle wording, and the piano accompaniment is arranged simply.
The lyrics, filled with warmth and anticipation for Santa, perfectly capture how children feel as they look forward to Christmas.
It’s ideal for Christmas events at kindergartens and nurseries, as well as for family time at home.
Sing it together, and you’re sure to make even more happy Christmas memories.
Octopus Song
Kites have been loved in Japan for a very long time.
Some of you might remember flying them at New Year’s when you were children.
This song is about that.
It first appeared in 1911 in the collection ‘Jinjō Shōgaku Shōka’ (Elementary School Songs), and its original title was said to be ‘Kaminowashi no Uta’ (Song of the Paper Kite).
The first verse is well known, but there are actually three verses.
The relaxed melody evokes the image of a kite soaring in the sky.
Every now and then, it’s nice to listen to a nostalgic song like this and let your thoughts wander to the good old days.
campfireComposer: Shigeru Watanabe
When we were children, you might remember seeing neighbors making small bonfires in their yards as summer faded into autumn.
In recent years, such scenes have become rare, but on chilly days, there’s still something about gathering around a fire with a few people.
It might be nice to sing this song while recalling those nostalgic memories.
I’m sure it will wrap your heart in a gentle warmth!
winter sceneryMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)
A set of lyrics in classical Japanese titled “Winter Scenery.” You might expect a stern winter song, yet its light triple meter and the 3-3-5 syllabic pattern make it a strangely soothing piece.
Unraveling the lyrics reveals early-winter scenes—mist, frost, and even mugi-fumi (the traditional practice of treading young wheat).
It is a song filled with a gentle beauty, as if timeless, nostalgic Japanese landscapes unfold before your eyes.
Winter Songs (11–20)
Silent Night
Silent Night is one of the Christmas carols loved by many people.
Known as “Silent Night” in English, this song features lyrics celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
It was hastily composed as a piece that could be played on guitar after the organ broke, even though carols had been planned to be sung with the organ on Christmas Eve.
That song went on to become a quintessential Christmas classic, passed down and sung for centuries.
Its gentle melody feels soothing, as if it purifies the heart when you listen.
It’s easy to sing not only in Japanese but also in English, so give it a try!
Waltz dance in the snow
This is a dance set to a waltz-style arrangement of the children’s song “Yuki” (Snow).
It begins with a polite bow, then continues with choreography that evokes falling snow and the motions of building a snowman.
In the latter half, there’s also a move where you face a friend and do a high-five, making it a dance everyone can enjoy together.
In the video, the same choreography is performed at three different speeds—from slow to fast—so it’s great for practice, and it also looks fun to challenge yourself to see how fast you can keep up.