A Better Birthday Song

I personally would probably just skip it all together.....just do cake and ice cream without singing. If the candles don't bother him, do the candles and let him blow them out. It's really not that big of a deal to not sing Happy Birthday in my opinion.

There use to be a song that Binky the Clown use to sing on Garfield and Friends.
To the tune of Frère Jacques (Are You Sleeping)
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday
Whoop De Do
Whoop De Do
Hope your day is pleasant
Open up a present
Just for you
Just for you

Does he have a favorite song? You might consider making up some birthday lyrics to go with the tune. And guest can "whisper" the song instead of bellowing it if the volume is a problem.

Tell the little guy happy birthday for me. My grandson turned 5 last month. It's a great age!

take whatever song that he likes and use the melody to fashion your own happy birthday song. I love to makes songs up-but then again I am a big goober :-)

like:

Timmy has a birthday today, birthday today, birthday today
Timmy has a birthday today and he is 6 years old.

(sung to row row row your boat)

My 3-yr-old has sensory issues and also hates Happy Birthday. What he hates the most is the "YAAYYYYYY!!!!!" and loud clapping and often hooting that follows the actual song. At his 3rd b-day, i asked everyone present (about 10 kids and 20+ adults) to sing quietly and to NOT say yay or clap at the end. He listened apprehensively, clutching my leg and hiding his face, until the end - where there was silence - and then looked up and smiled.

At others' parties, after a year of him crying loudly and saying and signing "All Done!!" all through the singing, we now either back up and listen from across the room, or we make a short exit until the singing and noise is over.

Try "oh happy day", it's more soothing..

maybe it's not the song itself but the volume it is being sung at.

There doesn't have to be singing at all.

We always played the Beatles song for our kids. Maybe your son doesn't like the repetition - so "For he's a jolly good fellow" might not work either. Or maybe he just needs something different. Can he tolerate "3 Cheers" (hip hip hooray)?? However, if his sensory issues involve loud noises and lots of people cheering/singing loudly, then skip it entirely.

for a 5 year old I recommend the Laurie Berkner Birthday Song. She's the red haired lady that sings on Noggin. We love her songs. She sings that song......I'm so glad, you;re in my family. LOVE LOVE LOVE that one

My 6 year old autistic son always covered his ears during happy birthday too. For as long as I can remember. Whether is was his bday or a cousin, friend, sibling. This year, for the first time ever - - at his sister's bday party he actually sang with the whole group and smiled without covering his ears! It was amazing. I don't think it is because of the actual song that my son covered his ears - he can't stand for anyone to sing off key! So whenever I would try to sing to him, he would cover up his ears and scream "all done!" But as he has gotten older he is dealing with the uncomfortable situations better and better. (and if it's really bad for him - maybe you could not sing at all ... maybe just say 1, 2, 3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thats it?)
Good luck and congrats on the big day!

there is this bday song on t.v. nick jr. it goes something like
"today is your bday we're so glad you came along. today is your bday so we're singing you this song..."
it goes on and its cute but i can't rememer the rest. try looking on nickjr.com and moose sings it.

Does he act this way with people singing out loud in general?
Who says there has to be singing anyway?
You can just do the other stuff if you don't know of a song that he does like.
What about "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". ?

It's short.

Best wishes.

I always LOVED this song when I was a kid, and I still do. I wish more people sang it. It short, sweet, and cute! The words are:

You've had a birthday, shout, "Hooray!"
We want to sing to you today.
One year older and wiser too,
Happy Birthday, to you!

This is a link to the song. It has the sheet music, and you can click on the play button on the top left to hear the tune.

http://lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?s...

Does he have a favorite tune - one most people will know? If so, send me the name of the tune and I'll write you some new words to sing to that tune that will tell him how much he is loved and how glad everyone is he was born on that day : )

The Lord has given me a gifting in that area, and I would be blessed to share it with you : ) Each of my 12 grandsugars have their own song that I made up (the Lord gave me) when they were tiny babies and some are now in their 20s but they still love me to sing their songs.

Hugs and blessings
Grami

I like the idea of taking his favorite song and singing it to him. Any song will do - or no singing at all. It's about him on his birthday. Maybe even ask him what song he would like to sing. But I agree, asking the guests not to sing or speak loudly is a FINE idea.