Ring in the new year with these kid-friendly songs! The arrival of January 1st is a time for celebration and reflection. These classic New Year’s tunes will get little ones excited about the possibilities of a fresh start. From cheerful melodies about welcoming the new year to catchy songs bidding farewell to the old, these top 10 kids’ songs are fun, easy to learn, and full of positive messages. Sing along as a family and make joyful noise to kick off the next exciting chapter! Discover more engaging preschool Christmas songs that bring festive joy to kids.
Cheer The Year
This upbeat song is for kids to celebrate the excitement of a fresh start. It includes clapping and singing to engage children .
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Cheer, cheer, cheer the year,
A new one’s just begun.
Celebrate with all your friends,
Let’s go have some fun!
Clap, clap, clap your hands,
A brand new year is here.
Learning, laughing, singing, clapping,
Through another year.
Celebrate
A simple tune for preschoolers about welcoming and celebrating the new year. This includes movements intended to improve basic motor skills.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Three Blind Mice”
Celebrate! Celebrate!
A Brand new year, a Brand new year.
Already it’s time for another year,
We hope it’s filled with lots of good cheer,
We’ll grow bigger and better this tear.
Celebrate! Celebrate!
New Year’s Here
This helps young learners focus on making noise and bringing in the next year. Kids will learn to make noise and get excited about things to come in the new year.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
Crash your cymbals, toot your horns,
New Year’s here! New Year’s here!
A time for happy drumming,
New birthdays are coming.
New Year’s Day! New Year’s Day!
A Brand New Year
A classic for little ones to sing along with in the new year. This will help kids practice saying “the new year”.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Muffin Man”
Now we have a brand new year,
A brand new year, a brand new year.
Now we have a brand new year,
It’s (name of year).
Let’s Celebrate
An uplifting song for preschoolers about saying goodbye to the old and hello to the new year. Try engaging your kids with this song while also celebrating the year to come.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
Happy New Year, Happy New Year,
Let’s celebrate, let’s celebrate.
Good-bye to the old year,
Hello to the new year.
Hurray, hurray! Hurray, hurray!
A New Year on Our Calendar
This classic tune teaches calendar recognition and awareness of the new year. Try it with your young ones and see if they can recognize the names of the months.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain”
There’s a new year on our calendar today
(name of year)
There’s a new years on our calendar today.
(name of year)
There’s a new year on our calendar,
A year to grow and learn much more.
There’s a new year on our calendar today.
It’s a New Year
An engaging song for young kids to sing about the date January 1st and traditions like horns and confetti. See if your kids can learn to use a horn while they sing this song.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
It’s a new year, it’s a new year,
January first, January first.
Out with the old,
In with the new.
Happy New Year! Happy New Year!
Horns are tooting, horns are tooting,
January first, January first.
Throw some confetti,
Throw some confetti.
Happy New Year! Happy New Year!
New Year’s Day
A simple chant for little learners comparing the old year ending and new one beginning. See if your kids can name things they learned last year and what they are going to learn this year.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Mary had a little lamb”
The old year’s coming to an end,
To an end, to an end.
Now a new year will begin.
Happy New Year’s Day!
Happy New Year
This energetic song bids goodbye to the old and hello to the new year. Try singing this song outside so your kids can explore their vocal range.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Are You Sleeping?”
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Good-bye to the old year!
Hello to the new year!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
New Year’s Day
A version of Jingle Bells celebrating the eve and new year’s cheer. Try singing this one with your kids and see if they recognize the tune from songs you may have sang during the holidays.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Jingle Bells”
New Year’s Day, New Year’s Day
Comes but once a year.
On New Year’s Eve we celebrate
And ring it in with cheer!
New Year’s Day, New Year’s Day
Comes but once a year.
On New Year’s Eve we celebrate
And ring it in with cheer!
This Year’s Drawing to an End
A New Year’s song for young children about the old year ending and new year starting January 1st. This song will help prepare your children for he new year ahead.
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Mary Had A Little Lamb”
This year’s drawing to an end,
To an end, to an end.
This year’s drawing to an end.
Soon we’ll start a new one.
Out with the old, in with the new,
In with the new, in with the new,
Out with the old and in with the new,
On January 1st.
These easy New Year songs for kids teach little ones about the changing of the year in a fun, musical way. The singalong rhymes and melodies help preschool and kindergarten students ring in the next year while practicing skills like counting, calendar recognition, and more. Teachers can use these kid-friendly New Year rhymes during December and January circle time activities.
The songs “Cheer the Year,” “New Year’s Here,” and “It’s a New Year” focus on New Year’s traditions like noisemakers which young children find entertaining. “A Brand New Year” and “New Year’s Day” simplify the concept for even 3-4 year olds learning their numbers and dates. Songs like “Let’s Celebrate” and “Happy New Year” get kids excited about welcoming January 1st. For more fun learning activities, check out our collection of winter songs for preschoolers. Tell us which ones your kids like the best so we can continue providing engaging content to sing-along with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some easy New Year’s songs I can teach my kids?
Some of the easiest New Year’s songs for young kids include “A Brand New Year,” “New Year’s Day,” and “Happy New Year.” These songs have simple melodies and lyrics focused on welcoming the new year.
What skills do these New Year’s songs teach preschoolers?
These songs help preschoolers practice skills like counting, calendar recognition, fine motor skills through clapping/movements, and vocabulary building around the new year.
What instruments can we use with these songs?
Noisemakers like horns, drums, tambourines, and bells make great instruments for ringing in the new year. You can also use rhythm sticks or shakers for songs with clapping like “Cheer the Year.” Learn how to use different instruments with these songs.
How can I explain the new year to a 3-4 year old?
Keep explanations simple for this age. Focus on tangible concepts like how we write a new number for the year. Try counting up to the new year or singing songs about the date changing to January 1st.
What are some traditions we can start based on these New Year’s songs?
Make noisemakers to use each year when you sing these songs welcoming the new year. Have kids reflect on their year and goals. Throw a New Year’s Eve family party where you sing these before midnight.
Where can I find more songs to sing with my preschooler?
Our site has hundreds of easy preschool songs on themes like holidays, alphabet, counting, STEAM topics, feelings/social-emotional learning, and more! Browse by age or subject to find your kids’ next favorite.