[Snow Songs for Winter] Children's Snow Nursery Rhymes and Hand-Play Songs

hard snow and icy crust

Katayuki Kanko – Masao Homma – Four Chapters of Children’s Songs for Three Voices

The melody that evokes the arrival of winter makes you want to listen on chilly days, doesn’t it? “Katayuki Kanko” is a song that lets you enjoy winter just by humming along.

The words in the lyrics are born from wordplay, and there’s a connection to trends in today’s music.

With its strong sense of rhythm and wintry imagery, it’s perfect for children to sing! The high notes are beautiful, so why not have teachers and parents sing along too? It’s a winter song that works whether you’re humming by yourself or singing in a group—be sure to give it a listen!

fluffy snow

Fluffy Snow [Hand Play Song]

Here is a fingerplay song about making a snowman’s face out of fruits and vegetables.

It looks like a fun way to learn numbers using the foods you draw.

It could also be nice to think of other foods that would suit a snowman’s face.

The song was written by childcare singer-songwriter Aramaki Shake, and it feels like it could become a staple in kindergartens and nursery schools.

little foxLyrics: Katsuo Masaru / Music: German folk song

Baby Fox 🦊 (♪ Little fox konkon in the mountains ~) by Himawari 🌻 ×2 with lyrics | Ministry of Education Song | Baby fox |

Little Fox was created based on a German folk song.

Selected as a Ministry of Education song, it is a children’s tune often played on recorders and melodicas in Japanese schools.

It depicts a fox living in the mountains in winter, merrily putting on makeup and hair ornaments like a human.

Because it repeats the same melody and chorus phrases, it’s well-suited for children to sing during winter activities in early childhood settings.

With its lively rhythm, it’s also fun to perform as a chorus—a song themed around an adorable little fox.

Rain child, snow child

Children’s song “Ame-konko, Yuki-konko”

These cute phrases are perfect for children to hum in winter.

“Amenko Yukinko” is an appealing song with lyrics expressing the wish for snowfall and a catchy, pop melody.

When the weather turns cold, there are times when you just can’t wait for snow, right? The easy-to-remember lyrics make it fun just to sing along.

It would be nice to sing it together at daycare on a chilly winter day, starting just before the snow begins to fall! How about watching the world outside the window and waiting for winter to arrive?

Winter March

Winter March – Kure Boys' Choir [1976]

As its title suggests, “Winter March” is a march distinguished by its powerful lyrics and energetic musical style.

Although it’s a choral piece, the section where everyone whistles together is delightful and fun.

It’s a heartening children’s song that makes you feel you can stride forward with a strong, steady pace even through a winter so cold it makes you want to stay still.

Snow DanceComposer: Traditional

Snow Dance ♪ Fall, fall, fall, fall—let it snow. Lyrics by Keizo Yui · Czechoslovak folk song ‘Týnom Tánom’

This children’s song once appeared in Japanese music textbooks, and it’s believed that the original is the Czechoslovak folk song “Týnom Tánom.” Its slightly melancholy melody matches the coldness of snow well, though the original lyrics are unrelated to snow.

It’s a well-known children’s song among people above a certain age.

KodANUKI PonpoLyrics: Etsuo Suzuki / Music: Takateru Oyama

Raccoon-dog Ponpo / Atom Shimojo

Here is a rare children’s song said to be sung by Atom Shimojo.

It first aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in December 1983.

The song is bittersweet yet somehow humorous: a young tanuki who borrowed a small red glove from a girl the previous year waits at the station where he met her, hoping to return it.