[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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- [Preschool] Recommended choral pieces for 3-year-olds
- Get pumped with popular songs from “Okaasan to Issho”! A collection of timeless tunes everyone will want to sing together
- [Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.
- [Childcare] Songs we want 6-year-old kindergarten seniors to sing! Perfect songs for recitals and graduation ceremonies.
- [For 3-year-olds] Songs to sing at nursery schools and kindergartens! Popular and recommended songs
- [Minna no Uta] Beloved Across Generations: Nostalgic Classics and Popular Songs
- [Age 4] Fun for grown-ups too! A roundup of anime for four-year-olds
- [Childcare] Fun Songs for 2-Year-Olds to Sing! Recommended Song Collection
- Sing and dance along to popular songs! Recommended hits from kids’ TV shows.
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- [Age 3] A roundup of anime for 3-year-olds that adults can enjoy too
[For 4-year-olds] Popular and classic songs to sing at recitals and seasonal events (1–10)
Surely a miracleYuichiro Hanada, Maya Nagata
Perfect for spring, new beginnings, and the new school term—here’s an introduction to “Kitto Kiseki,” a song parents and children will want to listen to together.
Some listeners may find courage and hope in the message woven into the lyrics.
The song is being presented as the Song of April 2025.
Of course it suits the season of new encounters in spring, but it’s also a great listen when you’re feeling down or after a quarrel with a friend—it may help you feel gratitude for the people you meet and a sense of destiny.
It might even turn your attention to encounters with animals and nature beyond humans.
What a wonderful song.
I want to become the sun.Toshihiko Niizawa
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 handsNoriyuki Makihara
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.
[For 4-year-olds] Popular and classic songs to sing at recitals and seasonal events (11–20)
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.
Let's draw a picture in the blue sky.Lyrics by Kazumi Itsuki / Music by 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 ChildrenToshihiko Niizawa
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.
ParadeLyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa / Music by Hirotaka Nakagawa
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!