Happy Birthday Songs: Birthday tunes to sing at daycare and kindergarten
A birthday that comes once a year is a special day for children.
We’ve gathered songs that everyone can sing together to celebrate such a birthday.
From traditional favorites to character-themed tunes, we’ve selected a wide range, so you’re sure to find a song that perfectly fits your image.
Not only can you sing with feeling, but some songs also come with gestures and hand movements, so it’s guaranteed to be lively!
Let’s celebrate the birthday child’s special day with all our hearts.
Birthday songs sung at nursery schools and kindergartens (1–10)
Birthday songSakushi: Maki Minori / Sakkyoku: Mine Akira
“Birthday Song” is one of the birthday songs actually sung in nursery schools and kindergartens.
You can include the birthday child’s name in the lyrics.
The gentle lyrics express wishes for the child to continue growing up healthy, which is lovely.
There are two verses, but it’s a very short song, so everyone can sing it together with the teacher’s piano accompaniment.
It’s a song you can use for birthdays in any month, so if you’re unsure what to sing, give this one a try.
Let’s all sing it out cheerfully together!
A Birthday for EveryoneSakushi: Kazumi Kazuki, Hajime Kamishiba/ Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba
Among the songs from “Okaasan to Issho,” this is an especially popular birthday song! From January birthdays to December birthdays, you can celebrate many children.
The part where you announce the birth month is a call-and-response, so be sure to reply cheerfully with your own birthday month! If you’re celebrating a specific birth month, move on to the next melody right away.
It’s a birthday song you can enjoy both at home and in early childhood settings!
birthday (tan-tan-tanjoubi)Sakushi: Yoda Jun’ichi / Sakkyoku: Sakata Tomiharu
It feels special to include a child’s name in the lyrics, doesn’t it? That’s why I’d like to introduce “Tanjoubi (Tan Tan Tanjoubi).” The lyrics are by Junichi Yoda and the music is composed by Tomiharu Sakata.
It’s a catchy tune that really sticks in your head.
Another great point is that you can enjoy clapping along to the lyrics.
It helps create the feeling that everyone is celebrating together and builds a sense of unity.
Let’s think of ways to make the birthday child smile!
It’s your birthday! Congratulations!Lyrics/Composition: Hiroshi Yamazaki
This song was composed by Mr.
Hiroshi Yamazaki, who has been involved in early childhood education for over 20 years—a true professional in the field.
It was created with consideration for young children’s vocal range and rhythm, making it gentle and easy for kids to sing.
The call-and-response between the children celebrating and the birthday child makes it perfect for a celebration.
It’s a simple yet warm-hearted song.
Let’s have all the children sing it together to liven up the birthday party.
Happy FriendsSakushi/Sakkyoku: Nihonmatsu Hajime
This is a birthday song written and composed by Hajime Nihonmatsu, who is active in multiple areas such as childcare training workshops, play songs, and parent–child concerts.
As you’d expect from a childcare specialist, both the lyrics and the melody are easy for all children to sing.
The lyrics use unadorned words to simply celebrate a birthday, yet they freely express the joy of the occasion, making it fun for children to sing along.
Let’s put our hearts into it and celebrate the birthday child.
Birthday yay!Sakushi • Sakkyoku: Abe Naomi
A fun birthday song called “Tanjoubi YAY” lets you celebrate kids’ birthdays together with the birthdays of all kinds of creatures that children love.
It’s not just singing and music—there are hand motions too—so it’s perfect for everyone to enjoy at a birthday party! If you change the part at the end where you introduce the birthday month, you can use it for parties in any month.
Give a round of applausesakushi/sakkyoku: Abe Naomi
If you’re looking for a song to sing with kids at birthday parties and similar events, we recommend “A Gift of Applause.” In this song, you clap along while singing, so the children are sure to have fun joining in! The piano accompaniment is simple, making it easy to try even if you’re not confident on the piano.
Let’s have the teacher and children give a round of applause as a gift to the birthday child.