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

ice cream

Ice Cream [Hand Play] Let's Make Ice Cream! A Perfect Hand Play for Summer ♩

Ice cream that both kids and adults love! It tastes especially good in the hot summer, doesn’t it? Here’s a hand-play activity themed around ice cream.

In this activity, the song includes hand motions like mixing ingredients such as milk and eggs and cooling them, so children can enjoy it as if they’re playing make-believe, which nurtures their imagination.

It’s perfect for food education, too.

We also recommend expanding the play by making different flavors based on the children’s requests—like strawberry, chocolate, grape, or melon! Give it a try and make some delicious ice cream together!

Let's go to the forest.

Let's Go to the Forest (Children's Song)

When you want to feel like you’re in a forest, the perfect song is “Let’s Go to the Forest.” This warm, heartfelt song lets you feel the joy of playing in nature and the gentle comfort of the woods.

If you sing it while picturing the green trees, chirping birds, and the pleasant breeze, both the singer and the listeners will feel as if they’re actually in the forest.

The key is to sing each word clearly and brightly.

It’s a song full of charm that naturally brings joy—sing it with excitement, letting your body bounce to the rhythm, and you’ll find yourself having fun.

Morning on the Ranch

Morning on the Ranch

It is said that the lyrics of “Morning on the Ranch” were written with Iwase Farm in Kagamiishi, Fukushima Prefecture as their model.

The lyrics depict the ranch at daybreak, shrouded in mist, interweaving scenes of sound and light along with the people working on the ranch and the sheep.

Describing how morning arrives on the wide ranch and a new day begins, the song’s lyrics are also included in elementary school textbooks.

Asking children what kinds of animals might be on a ranch, or explaining the kinds of work people do there, may help them form a clearer image of the piece.

A quiet lakeside

Quiet Lakeside [Children’s Song / School Song] Chorus Animation / Japanese song

“Shizukana Kohan” (Quiet Lakeside) is a German folk song to which Keizo Horiuchi added Japanese lyrics.

Its gentle tempo and catchy, memorable melody make it popular with children, who sing it cheerfully and with enthusiasm.

Because it’s a beloved song, many people of all ages know it, which is another reason it’s so enjoyable.

Forming a circle and holding hands while singing with the children can create a sense of unity and make it even more fun.

Since it’s a bright, lively tune, it’s also recommended for summer events.

wind chime

wind chime

Hearing the sound of wind chimes in the hot summer gives you a sense of elegance, doesn’t it? With its relaxed tempo and gentle lyrics, “Wind Chimes” is a pleasant children’s song that evokes the feeling of summer.

It’s also great to sing while holding a baby for a nap or when they start to cry.

Showing what an actual wind chime looks like can make it easier to imagine the lyrics, too.

Try singing this wind chime song with children to make the summer heat feel cooler.

It might even become a song that reminds you of your summer memories.

Ho! Ho! Ho!Lyrics: Akira Ito / Music: Nobuyoshi Koshibe

[Children's Song] Ho! Ho! Ho!

You sometimes hear this song on NHK programs for young children.

The oldest known recording dates back to 1972, sung by Kurumi Kobato—a children’s singer who also starred as the lead voice actor in the popular volleyball anime Attack No.

1.

Since then, it has been passed down through shows like Okaasan to Issho (With Mother).

The unique lyrics in the chorus are sure to delight little kids.

Why not try singing it yourselves toward the blue summer sky?

Oh, the ranch is green.

Oh, the pasture is green — oh, the pasture is green; over the sea of grass the wind blows~ (with gestures)

Let’s move our bodies to the rhythm! Here are some ideas for “Oh, the Meadow is Green.” These ideas are perfect for summer, when the weather is nice and the air is crisp.

They’re especially recommended if you’re thinking, “What song should we sing this month?” or “I’m looking for something with a good rhythm!” The song “Oh, the Meadow is Green” is the Japanese version of the folk song “Ach, synku, synku”/“Ach, krásná louka” (often known in English as “Ah, Lovely Meadow”), which has been sung for a long time in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

By adding some choreography, you can enjoy engaging with the music even more.