[Music Play] Children’s Recreational Music: Rec Songs You Can Sing and Play
We’re introducing playful songs and recreation songs that you can enjoy with children!
We’ve gathered a wide variety—from classic folk dance and campfire songs to rounds, hand-play songs, and playful tunes perfect for bus activities.
They’re all songs that everyone will say, “I’ve heard this before!” so you can use them for recreation with confidence.
The folk dance songs also come with choreography tutorial videos, so please use them as a reference.
Let’s sing together and have a wonderful time!
- [Partner Song] Singing two different songs simultaneously! Nursery rhymes & the latest hits
- Let's sing together! A collection of nursery rhymes everyone knows
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- Recommended for sports days and recreational events! Easy-to-dance Disney classics and popular dance songs
- [Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
- Nursery rhymes and play songs to enjoy with your baby. Gentle children's songs.
- Sing and dance along to popular songs! Recommended hits from kids’ TV shows.
- A collection of cheerful nursery rhymes—songs that make you feel happy when you sing them.
- [For 0-year-olds] Recommended songs for babies: A special feature on bonding play and traditional nursery rhymes
- [Camp Songs] Classic camping songs. Campfire songs you can play along with
- [Childcare] Summer songs: Full of fun! Summer nursery rhymes & finger-play songs
- [Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.
[Music Play] Children's Recreational Music: Sing-and-Play Rec Songs (11–20)
Oklahoma Mixer
The representative folk dance enjoyed as recreation at various events, starting with school sports days, is the “Oklahoma Mixer.” In fact, “Oklahoma Mixer” is not the name of the song but the name of the dance.
The real song title is “Turkey in the Straw,” a popular tune featured in American entertainment shows in the 1800s.
Typically, boys and girls pair up to dance, moving around and repeatedly changing partners in turn.
Dancers hold hands, step together, and turn as they dance.
It’s perfect for helping boys and girls grow closer!
Soran Bushi
Soran Bushi is a folk song from the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido, often danced to at school and kindergarten sports festivals.
Sung with the powerful phrasing characteristic of folk songs, it tells of herring fishing.
In Hokkaido, the YOSAKOI Soran Festival, an event that features Soran Bushi, is held every year in early June.
The choreography includes many movements that depict herring fishing, giving a strong, dynamic impression just like the song itself.
It’s a perfect choice for showcasing the unity of a class or group at a sports day!
Goodbye for today.
This is a song composed in 1966 by Shoichi Kaneko, a university student who belonged to the Harmonie Center Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, with the aim of deepening friendship among young people.
The following year, Ryoko Moriyama featured the song and made it the B-side of a single, which became a hit.
In 1973, it was included in high school music textbooks, leading to wider recognition and more frequent singing.
It is often sung during Boy Scout and Girl Scout activities, and due to its lyrics, it is also cherished as a graduation song.
Oh, the pastures are green
This song was chosen to be the very first piece broadcast on NHK’s long‑loved program “Minna no Uta” in 1961.
Originally, it was a tune long sung and cherished in rural areas of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, featuring humorous lyrics and still performed today at folk music festivals.
The song was brought to the United States by immigrants, where new lyrics were added to make it a ranch work song.
The most widely known Japanese lyrics were written by Ugo Nakata, a pastor who had studied in the United Kingdom.
Let's dance, fun Polechke!
Many of you may have sung, danced to, or even played this piece on instruments in elementary school.
The original version of this song is called “Polka Trampolka,” a Polish folk tune that was transcribed and arranged by the Polish composer Sygietyński.
The polka, which began around 1830 as a Czech folk dance, is often in fast duple meter.
When Japanese lyrics are added, it can feel like a Japanese song, giving the impression of a fusion between Japanese and Polish cultures.
O Bureneli
“O Breneli,” which feels like it would be wonderful to sing in a place with beautiful scenery.
It’s based on a Swiss folk song, and in Japan it’s been adapted with new lyrics and sung in various commercials.
The lyrics feature two people who talk about where they live and what kind of person they are.
The crisp, soaring chorus evokes Switzerland’s vast green landscapes and feels so refreshing! Just like calling out from a mountaintop, let’s all sing this song together in loud, clear voices! And, like in the lyrics, spend time chatting with your friends about all sorts of things.
[Music Play] Children's recreational music. Rec songs you can sing and play (21–30)
Anpanman Ondo
Let’s all dance together! Here are some ideas for the “Anpanman Ondo.” Let’s dance the “Anpanman Ondo” with the beloved characters from “Go! Anpanman,” popular in the anime, movies, and picture books! The song has four verses, but the choreography stays the same, so it should be easy for children to learn, right? Moving their bodies to the rhythm can not only develop motor skills and a sense of rhythm, but also help nurture emotional expression—like “I did it!” and “I can dance for fun!”—and boost their self-esteem.