Adapt a traditional Christmas song from the Virgin Islands to a simplistic birthday song for your preschoolers. Traditionally, the song lyrics read "Christmas coming" but have in modern times been turned into "Birthday's coming." The basics of the song are:
"Mama, bake the Johnny cake,
Birthday's coming,
Birthday's coming,
Birthday's coming."
Change the name of the song to include the birthday child's name. For example, if a girl named Rhonda is having her special day, the song would go, "Mama, bake the Rhonda cake."
This song is traditionally accompanied only by rhythmic hand clapping. Your preschoolers can enjoy singing and clapping as they walk around the table where the guest of honor sits blowing out her candles.
Incorporate other ideas from the Virgin Islands into the celebration. Drape brightly colored pieces of cloth over the celebrator's shoulders to represent the clothing of the island and place mini palm trees and bright flowers on the table.
Created by Jim Davis, Garfield is the lovable orange tabby cat who loves his lasagna. Based on a cartoon strip, the animated series included a clown named Binky who was the bane of the cat's existence. One episode includes Binky showing up at Garfield's door mistakenly and singing a new rendition of "Happy Birthday."
"Happy birthday, happy birthday
Whoop dee do, whoop dee do
Hope it will be pleasant
Open up your presents
Just for you
Just for you"
This funny chant can be a fun alternative to the traditional song. Your preschoolers can dance around chanting the song as Binky did in the cartoon. It can be repeated over and over for as long as you let it go on.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, artist Stevie Wonder wrote a special song. The lyrics are filled with positive reasons to celebrate life and what Dr. King achieved. This song can be used not only for Dr. King's birthday, but for your young student's birthday as well.
The lyrics of the song are not simple, but the tune is very upbeat. You may wish to play the recording for the students to dance to in lieu of them learning the words to the song. They will however quickly catch on to the "happy birthday" chorus contained within.