[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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Children’s Songs: Popular Nursery Rhymes (41–50)
What color do you like?Lyrics/Composition: Osamu Sakata
“What’s the name of my favorite color?” With the song “Which Color Do You Like?” kids can have fun singing while learning color names.
Children, who are naturally curious about the world around them, are likely feeling, even without saying it out loud, “I like this color” as they see many colors every day.
It’s great to tell them each time, “This is [color],” but learning through a song might make it easier to match the names with the colors.
As you sing, find the same colors in the things around you and in the clothes you’re wearing, and enjoy learning the names of colors.
Yaho-ho
Lyrics that call out like “Yah-ho-ho!” are so much fun to sing, aren’t they? Some children might call out with energetic voices.
In those moments, try replying with a cheerful “Yah-ho!” like an echo—it makes things even more fun and is highly recommended.
Enjoy varying the volume of your voice, making it louder and softer.
Open your palms and add a motion as if you’re raising them toward the sun while you sing.
And at the end, try singing even more energetically!
Dango Three BrothersLyrics by Masahiko Sato / Music by Yoshiro Horie
Dango San Kyodai was written specifically for NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho.” The lyrics were by Masahiko Sato and the music by Yoshiro Horie.
It became so popular that it turned into a social phenomenon, so many of you may already know it.
The song features uniquely quirky lyrics that express the feelings of dumpling brothers skewered on a stick.
Set to a tango rhythm, its light, breezy melody unfolds in a way that makes it perfect not only for singing but also for trying some dance moves.
Why not take on this children’s song to liven up events like school performances and recitals?
your smile
Bright and uplifting, “Kimi no Egao” is a feel-good song that won’t be defeated even by a rainy day.
Try singing it with the children, making eye contact and smiling.
Adding gestures and movements can make it even more fun to sing.
Pay attention to the lyrics, too—they’ll fill you with energy that won’t lose to the summer heat.
It’s perfect for singing under the glittering summer sun.
Sing this heart-boosting song and share the importance of smiles with the children.
Let’s all sing it together with lots of energy!
Karada DandanLyrics: Sensha Yoshida / Music: Yasuo Kosugi
The exercise song from NHK E-Tele’s “Okaasan to Issho,” called “Karada☆Dandan.” If your child goes to daycare or kindergarten, they probably already know it! In this song, you transform into all sorts of creatures like crabs, dinosaurs, and ninjas, making it a fun track to play while moving your body.
It might be a bit challenging for infants and toddlers, but children around preschool age should be able to dance through the whole thing.
It’s great for parents and kids to dance together, and it also works well for everyone to do as part of warm-up exercises!
Palms to the SunLyrics by Takashi Yanase / Music by Taku Izumi
“Teno hira o Taiyo ni” (“Hold Your Palms Up to the Sun”) features lyrics by Takashi Yanase, the beloved creator of the picture book Anpanman, and music by Taku Izumi, a composer known for many Showa-era popular songs.
It carries a profound message that teaches us we have many emotions precisely because we are alive.
Accompany the bright, uplifting melody with choreography that looks up toward the sun.
It would also be fun to prepare illustrations of the various animals that appear in the lyrics.
Try incorporating this well-known classic into your early childhood education activities.
Tonton Tomato-chan
With its gentle vocals and refreshing melody, “Ton-ton Tomato-chan” is perfect as a July children’s song! Speaking of summer vegetables, there are tomatoes, cucumbers, and more.
Celebrating the tomato, which is delicious even in summer, “Ton-ton Tomato-chan” has a pleasant rhythm and is a nursery rhyme that even babies from 0 years old can enjoy.
Its comfortable tempo also makes it a relaxing song.
It’s also recommended to move your body to the music with kids while holding maracas or handmade instruments.
Have fun with it!