[Childcare] Summer songs: Full of fun! Summer nursery rhymes & finger-play songs

Takoyaki

Takoyaki (hand game)

When you think of summer, you think of festivals; when you think of festivals, you think of food stalls; and then, of course, piping-hot takoyaki.

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Let me introduce the fun hand-play song “Takoyaki” that naturally brings up those associations.

Its streamlined, simple melody and lyrics, along with easy-to-understand moves you can get at a glance, make it very easy to learn—even little kids can grasp it right away, which is great.

The clever touch of letting you learn the vowels a, i, u, e, o at the end of the lyrics is also delightful.

By all means, tie on a headband and enjoy it as if you were actually making takoyaki at a festival stall!

Cute cookLyrics and composition: Unknown

Cute cook

On days so hot that you don’t feel like going outside, how about trying a drawing song in a cool room? The classic drawing song “Kawaii Kokkusan” (“Cute Little Chef”) lets you end up with a picture of a cute chef by drawing along with the lyrics.

Lots of foods appear as comparisons in the lyrics, so it’s fun to snack while you draw, too! By the way, the date mentioned in the lyrics is said to be Chef’s Day.

Even after the rainy season when outdoor play is hard, there are days when the heat or typhoons make it tough to play outside.

On days like that, play along with this song!

The frog’s fluteLyrics by Nobuo Saito / Music by Minoru Kainuma

Children’s song “The Frog’s Flute” [Sung by Masako Kawada] [New Recording]

When people hear “frogs,” many might think of rain, but on summer nights you can always hear their voices coming from somewhere, too.

The children’s song “Kaeru no Fue” (The Frog’s Flute) perfectly matches that summer night scene.

It portrays the distant croaking you hear at bedtime as frogs playing flutes, and sings about it.

The sound of those frog “flutes” is like a lullaby, bringing gentle moments to hot summer nights.

On a summer night when you can’t quite fall asleep, try listening closely to the frogs’ distant voices along with this song.

Goldfish's NapLyrics by Naruaki Kashima / Music by Ryutaro Hirota

Goldfish's Nap by Saori Yuki

Goldfish scooping is a must at fun summer festivals! There are probably many children who scoop goldfish at the festival and then raise them at home.

A children’s song with that very theme is “Kingyo no Hirune” (Goldfish Napping).

Its gentle melody brings a calm that could lull not only the goldfish but also the listener into a drowsy afternoon nap.

The lyrics describe a goldfish dozing off, and when someone says, “If you wake up, I’ll give you a tasty meal,” the goldfish opens its eyes.

If you want to wake up your pet goldfish at home, why not try imitating this song?

Whale ClockLyrics by Kazuo Seki / Music by Takeshi Shibuya

Whale Clock by Himawari 🌻 (♪ The whale floats on the sea ~ What time is it now? Now it’s whale time!) With lyrics | Children’s song, Okaasan to Issho | Kujira no Tokei | Whale Watches

This children’s song, “The Whale’s Clock,” is perfect for a refreshing summer day by the sea.

You might not easily spot a whale, but how about singing this tune when you go to the beach and enjoying a fun time? Just like the whale, seagulls and dolphins in the ocean ask the whale for the time.

Each time, the whale answers with a time that playfully relates to itself.

In the end, it even adds a little “ra,” turning it into a bit of a pun.

It’s a charming song featuring a very mischievous whale.

Rainy MoonLyrics by Ujō Noguchi / Music by Shinpei Nakayama

Rainy Moon - Shoko Haida

With its beautifully nostalgic melody, just reading the lyrics conjures vivid scenes—“Amefuri Otsukisan” truly sings the heart of Japan.

It first appeared in the Taishō era in the children’s magazine Kodomo no Kuni, under the original title “Amefuri Otsuki.” Later, when it was recorded, it was combined with “Kumo no Kage,” a piece introduced in the same magazine as a sequel, and thus reborn as “Amefuri Otsukisan.” While the melody is easy to remember, the words used in the lyrics can be difficult for young children to understand, so it might be nice for mothers or fathers to sing it together with their children on a rainy summer night.

loquatLyrics by Michio Mado / Music by Shigeru Isobe

[Children's Song] Biwa ♪

Written by the poet Michio Mado, this song has lyrics and a melody so gentle that it leaves you with a warm, cozy feeling.

The image of loquats on the tree appearing not as single fruits but grouped together—and describing that closeness as them snuggling because they’re kind—is just wonderful, isn’t it? I’d be so happy if children could grow up with that kind of loving, rich imagination.

It even makes me crave loquats.