[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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- I want to sing it at the senior class recital! A choral piece that 5-year-olds can sing with all their heart
- Lullabies: children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Nostalgic songs for putting children to sleep.
Children’s Songs: Popular Nursery Rhymes (51–60)
Magic Shoes
Listening to it makes you feel positive—“Magic Shoes” is the perfect song for the start of summer when you want to try something new! It’s also popular with children and teachers.
The lyric “put on your magic shoes” is so adorable, isn’t it? It’s a thrilling song that makes you feel like taking on new challenges or going out somewhere.
With its bright tempo, try singing it together while happily chatting about your favorite shoes.
Yokai Shiritori
The song “Yokai Shiritori” features all kinds of yokai in its lyrics.
Listen closely to hear which yokai appear.
Since it’s structured as shiritori, you might also enjoy it as a kind of wordplay.
It could be fun to ask the children which yokai they like and work their original yokai names into the song to get everyone excited.
It’s a tune that can be enjoyed in many settings, such as summer festivals or overnight daycare events in the summer.
By all means, try creating a new yokai song together with the children.
Sticky Samba
With its catchy tune that sticks in your head after just one listen, “Neba-Neba Samba” features melodies and lyrics that make you want to dance.
Along with the lyrics about “neba-neba” (sticky/slimy), lots of foods that evoke that texture appear.
It might be fun to imagine them and see how many you can find.
From around age two, it’s also recommended to ask questions like, “What kinds of sticky foods are there?” It could be enjoyable to include the song as part of summer food education as well.
Picnic
With its lively, energetic rhythm, “Picnic” is a sprightly song that makes you want to start walking.
Ducks, goats, dogs, and pigs appear in the lyrics.
Try singing while imitating their animal sounds! If you ask the children what sounds each animal makes before singing, they’ll be able to enjoy the song more while understanding its meaning.
Since it’s a song about heading to the fun place that is a picnic, sing it brightly and cheerfully with the children.
Children’s Songs: Popular Nursery Rhymes (61–70)
One, two, three
Let me introduce the upbeat song “One, Two, Three.” The lyrics feature animals like frogs and penguins.
It might be fun to change the way you jump for each animal, adding variety to your movements as you dance.
As you sing, it turns into an energizing song that fills you with hope and courage for the future.
Try dancing and enjoying it while imagining a bright future! Adding some hand claps might make it even more fun.
paprikaKenshi Yonezu
Paprika was written and composed by Kenshi Yonezu as the NHK 2020 support song.
After the dance music video by the children’s unit Foorin was released, Yonezu also announced his own self-cover.
It was chosen as the August–September song on NHK’s Minna no Uta, making it a hugely popular track known by many children.
It’s a fun song to sing or listen to, but since it has official choreography, be sure to try dancing along with your child.
I want to become the sun!Lyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa / Music by Hirotaka Nakagawa
It’s a song filled with gentle feelings, where the warmth of love shines like the sun.
Toshihiko Shinzawa and Hirotaka Nakagawa tenderly express the warm emotions of falling for someone through a bright, expansive melody.
This piece was performed in July 2017 by Satoko Yamano, Toshihiko Shinzawa, and the Kotonomi Children’s Choir, and included on the album “Toshihiko Shinzawa & Hirotaka Nakagawa Songs <30th Anniversary Commemorative: Children’s Chorus Version>.” Its poppy melody and positive message make it perfect for occasions like kindergarten entrance ceremonies and the start of a new school term.
Why not sing it together, warmly watching over the children as they take their first steps toward the future?