Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
The season of children’s songs that warmly embrace the heart in October has arrived.
Crimson dragonflies at dusk, cosmos flowers, golden rice ready for harvest, and children going out to collect acorns and fallen leaves… Scenes that color autumn in Japan are beautifully depicted in the lyrics and melodies of these songs.
In this article, we introduce autumn children’s songs beloved in early childhood settings, as well as seasonal finger-play songs you can enjoy with kids.
Please sing these autumn songs—cherished across generations—together with your loved ones, children and adults alike!
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Recommended nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn (1–10)
sports day
There are many songs for children’s sports days, and this one is Undokai (“Sports Day”), with lyrics by Sachio Mitsukoshi and music by Yasushi Kihara.
It’s a fun song that conveys the enthusiasm of the Red Team and the White Team for the event.
It’s apparently also sung at nursery school and kindergarten sports days.
By singing this song, we hope both the Red and White teams do their best.
If you want to boost kids’ motivation for sports day, this song is highly recommended!
Under the big chestnut tree
Here is a hand-clapping song that has been famous for a very long time.
Perhaps even people in their grandparents’ generation played it when they were children.
The tune is based on an English folk song and is titled almost the same as in Japanese: “Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree.” The lyricist of the first verse in Japanese is unknown, while verses two and three were written by Hiroo Sakata.
It’s a song we hope will continue to be loved by children for years to come.
Yakiimo goo-choki-pa
When autumn comes, you start craving delicious roasted sweet potatoes, don’t you? “Yakiimo Goo-Choki-Paa” is a song themed around roasted sweet potatoes that kids love.
The lyrics are by Hiroo Sakata, and the music is by Naozumi Yamamoto.
As the title suggests, you can play rock-paper-scissors along with this song.
When you’re competing for the last roasted sweet potato, it might be fun to use this song to decide the winner!
Recommended nursery rhymes & fingerplay songs for October! Autumn-themed music time in childcare (11–20)
A squirrel is digging a hole.
When you think of autumn, many people might picture a cute little squirrel with its cheeks puffed out.
“Risu wa Ana Hori” is a hand-play song that depicts a squirrel hiding acorns in holes to prepare for winter.
With its gentle melody and picture book–like storytelling, it’s perfect for autumn strolls or childcare activities.
It’s also nice that it’s a simple hand-play with easy-to-remember moves inspired by a squirrel’s adorable motions.
If you’re looking for a cute autumn hand-play activity, give this one a try.
Rock, paper, scissors with pumpkinMomoko Okazaki
Let me introduce a fun song that’s perfect for the Halloween season.
This track by Momoko Okazaki features choreography that incorporates the hand game “Goo Choki Paa,” which kids love.
With its bright, lively vocals and rhythmic melody, you’ll find your body moving along before you know it.
Released in August 2017, the song was used in the Halloween special of the popular character Shimajiro’s animated program, “Shimajiro no Wao!” It’s a tune you can enjoy dancing to with family and friends, so why not include it in your daycare or kindergarten Halloween event? It’s a wonderful song that brings smiles to everyone’s faces.
Red sky at dusk
Yuyake Koyake, with lyrics by Ukou Nakamura and music by Shin Kusakawa, is one of the songs that has long been loved by children.
When this song starts to play, many kids reflexively think, “I have to go home!” The melody is a little wistful, but the lyrics are very gentle.
It’s also nice that it depicts the scene after the children have gone home.
It’s a masterpiece that we hope will continue to be sung for years to come.
Konkon fox
This is a hand-play song where you make fox shapes with both hands.
When it comes to a fox’s cry, we think of “kon kon,” right? In this song, you sing that cry in various styles, like “quietly” or “cool,” and more.
Children can freely express the cry, and because its feel changes each time, they’ll wonder, “What will the cry sound like next?” and stay engaged.
At the end, both hands go on the lap to show a “ready-to-listen” posture, so it’s also a great song to gather everyone’s attention during transitions!