[For 4-year-olds] Popular and classic songs to sing at recitals and seasonal events
By the time they turn four, children show growth in many ways: they can listen to stories and words and let their imaginations soar, and they become able to express their feelings and thoughts in words.
Through music, we hope they encounter many words and melodies and grow healthy in both mind and body.
Here are some highly recommended songs that are perfect for four-year-olds.
We’ve gathered a wide range of genres: songs that feel exhilarating to sing, songs with storylines that spark imagination, and songs that express feelings for family and friends.
These selections are great not only for everyday childcare settings but also for recitals and events!
Find songs that suit the children, and be sure to have fun singing together.
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[For 4-year-olds] Popular and classic songs to sing at recitals and seasonal events (1–10)
I want to become the sun.Shinzawa Toshihiko
With lyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa and music by Hirotaka Nakagawa, this song is by the same duo behind the popular “Sekai-ju no Kodomotachi ga.” It’s easy to learn and has lovely lyrics, making it a great choice for a choral piece.
Singing its positive lyrics helps create a bright, joyful mood, which is another plus.
Besides recitals, it’s also recommended to sing to welcome new children when they join the kindergarten.
Rather than just singing, it would be nice to deepen the children’s understanding of the song by discussing the meaning of the lyrics with them.
Let’s hold handsMakihara Noriyuki
This song is a warm and gentle piece that stays close to children’s hearts.
The lyrics are simple yet deeply meaningful, softly reminding us of the importance of holding hands.
Born from efforts to support recovery after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the song was released in 2011 and resonated with many people.
Designed so children can sing it easily, it’s perfect for events at nurseries and kindergartens, as well as for everyday childcare.
If everyone holds hands and sings together, it will surely become a wonderful time filled with smiles.
The Magic of Do-Re-MiGO-BANG’S
Here’s a fun song called “Doremi no Mahō,” performed by the all-female band GO-BANG’S, famous for “Aini Kite I-NEED-YOU.” It was also broadcast on NHK’s music program “Minna no Uta.” Since it uses the familiar do-re-mi musical scale as its theme, it naturally feels approachable.
The gentle lyrics—something like, “We’re excited for the life that’s about to begin! Let’s all walk forward together”—are lovely, too.
The tempo is fast, but slowing it down a bit doesn’t feel out of place.
The choreography that features pointing or clapping during the do-re-mi parts is also fun.
For a class of four-year-olds (nenchū), singing it with choreography would be great.
[For 4-year-olds] Popular and classic songs to sing at recitals and seasonal events (11–20)
Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba
“Let’s Paint on the Blue Sky” is a song that sparks the imagination with its fantastical story.
It tells of riding a great cloud-ship across the sky, bound for an island no one has ever seen.
Each line of the lyrics conjures beautiful scenery.
I hope you’ll sing it with a sense of excitement about the story in the lyrics.
There’s also a part with lively call-and-response shouts, making it perfect for times when you want to have fun and get energized.
Raising your hands high to match the calls is a lovely touch, too.
Happy ChildrenShinzawa Toshihiko
If you’re looking for a song that unites the preschoolers on stage with the attending parents in the audience, we recommend Happy Children.
It’s sure to create excitement just like a live concert.
The lyrics, with lines like “Talking with children makes everyone happy; watching children makes everyone smile,” are easy to learn, and above all, the fun melody naturally gets your body moving.
The chorus is repetitive and easy to memorize, and it gets even more exciting when you add choreography and sing along! If you’re unsure which song to choose, this is one you should definitely listen to at least once.
rainbowSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
The song “Niji,” which everyone can sing together, is a simple, warm piece that evokes a sense of nostalgia.
When it rains, we sometimes feel sad because we can’t hang out the laundry or the events we were looking forward to get postponed.
But when a beautiful rainbow stretches across the sparkling sky after the rain, those sad feelings just blow away.
Even children who don’t like rain will surely start looking forward to the clear skies after singing this song.
Be sure to try singing it on a rainy day.
ParadeSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
This song is also included on the album “Aozora SONGS,” supervised by Toshihiko Shinazawa with the theme of “songs you can sing with children every day.” The song’s biggest appeal is, above all, how fun it is! If you want both the preschoolers singing it and the parents watching to “smile,” this track truly comes recommended.
The “tan-tan-tan…” rhythm feels great, so it’s a good idea to build a stage setup featuring percussion like tambourines or castanets.
The section where the tempo slows down after the second verse also makes for a wonderful highlight!