For preschoolers, it’s a magical time filled with colorful twinkling lights, festive decorations, and the anticipation of Santa Claus.
One of the best ways to instill the holiday spirit in young children is through song.
Singing not only helps children learn rhythm and melody but also enhances their language skills and boosts their confidence.
Here, we’ve listed 40 fun and simple Christmas songs for preschoolers – from the classics right through to Disney.
Plus, we’ve included some of our top tips for engaging your class in them.
Singing With Preschoolers: Tips for Success
They may be little, but preschoolers are pretty good at picking up songs.
Start simple when teaching your class Christmas songs; songs like Red-Nosed Reindeer Or We Wish You A Merry Christmas are a great place to start.
Take your children through the lyrics first, without the music, and have them repeat after you.
When they’re ready, hit play, and you can all sing along together.
To make the singing experience more engaging and enjoyable for preschoolers, try the following tips:
Use hand movements and gestures: Children love actions, and associating movements with lyrics can make the songs more memorable. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!
Incorporate props: Whether it’s halos or Rudolph’s nose, props can make the singing experience more interactive and joyful.
Engage in repetition: Repetition aids memory. Don’t shy away from singing the same song multiple times. It only makes the tune stick better!
Encourage group singing: Singing in a group can be less intimidating for shy children and can foster a sense of community and togetherness.
Use Instruments: Christmas songs are the perfect opportunity to break out the bells, triangles, and shakers. Your preschoolers will really get into the tunes when armed with an instrument.
20 Classic Christmas Songs Your Preschoolers Will Love
Now, let’s take a look at some of the best Christmas songs you can teach your preschoolers. We’ll start with the classics and move on to some others:
1. Jingle Bells
Most preschoolers will already be very familiar with this song, which makes teaching it to them as a group even easier.
Jingle Bells is a classic tune that’s simple to learn and has a repetitive chorus that kids love to sing.
The cheerful rhythm makes it a favorite during the holiday season.
Add some bells to make this even more fun.
2. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
This Christmas song was made for little ones.
Rudolph’s story is one of perseverance and acceptance, and preschoolers can relate to the tale of feeling different and then being celebrated for that uniqueness.
The song’s narrative structure also helps kids anticipate and remember the lyrics.
You can make some great hand movements to go with this one.
3. Frosty The Snowman
Why it’s great: Frosty’s adventure of coming to life and enjoying a day in the snow is a captivating story for children – one that they’ll love to sing along to.
Its catchy tune and playful lyrics make it easy for young kids to remember and sing.
4. Up On The Housetop
Why it’s great: This song’s rhythmic pattern and simple lyrics are perfect for preschoolers.
The story of Santa’s visit gives kids a delightful peek into St. Nick’s journey on Christmas Eve.
5. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
This is another Christmas classic that your class will probably already be familiar with.
With its repeating lines and warm wishes, this song encapsulates the spirit of the season.
It’s a wonderful way for kids to express their holiday greetings to friends and family.
6. Deck The Halls
This song offers a vibrant rhythm that can be paired with fun actions like decorating an imaginary tree and jingling bells.
Its repetitive nature makes it easy for young minds to grasp.
7. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
The song’s chorus is catchy and straightforward, so it’s easy for preschoolers to learn.
And there’s a helpful reminder of Santa’s list in this one, which is guaranteed to encourage good behavior among the children.
If you want to inspire excitement for the holidays, then this is a great song to choose.
8. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
While the full version might be lengthy, you can always shorten it or focus on the earlier days.
Plus, it’s a counting song, which can be educational for preschoolers.
To make it even more exciting, you can assign groups of children to different parts of the song and turn this into a game. When their part comes up, they have to quickly stand up, sing, and sit back down again.
The end result is sure to be carnage, but everyone will have a wonderful time.
9. Little Drummer Boy
The repetitive “pa rum pum pum pum” of Little Drummer Boy is fun for children to sing.
You can also incorporate toy drums or clapping to make it more interactive.
10. O Christmas Tree
Why it’s great: The melody is soothing and repetitive, making it an easy song for preschoolers.
It’s also a great way to discuss the symbolism of the Christmas tree.
11. Feliz Navidad
Introducing a song in a different language can be both fun and educational.
The song’s repetitive lines make it easy for kids to join in, even if they’re unfamiliar with Spanish.
12. Away In A Manger
This gentle lullaby narrates the story of the birth of Jesus in a stable and is popular in school nativities.
Its calming tune is perfect for winding down before hometime or introducing the religious aspect of Christmas to young children.
13. Here Comes Santa Claus
This song paints a vivid picture of Santa’s arrival, which can captivate a child’s imagination.
Its upbeat tempo makes it a delightful sing-along.
14. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
This Christmas song is guaranteed to make your class giggle – the thought of their mom kissing Santa will be very funny!
And they’re sure to tell Daddy all about this one when they get home!
15. Jingle Bell Rock
This is a twist on the classic “Jingle Bells”; this song’s lively beat can encourage dancing and clapping, making it an interactive experience for kids.
16. Must Be Santa
With its call-and-response style, this song is interactive and perfect for class settings.
It also offers a fun way to describe Santa’s appearance and characteristics.
17. Holly Jolly Christmas
The cheerful and optimistic tone of this song can uplift spirits instantly. Its simple lyrics make it accessible for young children.
18. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
This song paints a picturesque image of the holiday season, allowing children to visualize and anticipate the festive celebrations.
19. Silver Bells
A more mellow choice, this song captures the serene beauty of Christmas in a city setting. The chime-like “Silver Bells” phrase is easy for kids to remember and sing.
20. Santa Tell Me
A more modern selection, this song has a catchy chorus that can be easily picked up. It also taps into the excitement and anticipation children feel around the holidays.
9 Fun Disney-themed Christmas Tunes
We’ve covered some of the classics, now it’s time to delve into some of the Christmas songs that your students will probably know better than you do.
We’re talking about Disney songs, of course:
1. The Best Christmas of All
This festive song is from Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, and your class will love it.
2. As Long As There’s Christmas
From Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, As Long As There’s Christmas is a beautiful song from this classic Disney movie.
3. Let It Go
You didn’t think we were going to finish this guide without a few hits from Frozen, did you?
While it’s not strictly a Christmas song, its winter theme has made it a favorite during the holiday season.
4. Do You Want To Build A Snowman?
This is also from Frozen and is a song that’s incredibly popular with children, so your class will love singing along to this for the holidays.
5. It Feels Like Christmas
The Muppet’s Christmas Carol is one of the best-ever Christmas movies, in our humble opinion. And it’s full of great songs, too!
Try singing It Feels Like Christmas with your preschoolers.
6. Bless Us All
Coming in with another song from The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, Bless Us All is a sweet and festive tune that embodies what the holidays are all about.
7. That Time Of Year
This song is from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure and is ideal for a festive classroom sing-a-long.
8. Ring In The Season
We’re adding another song from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. This is easy to learn and lots of fun to join in with.
9. Thankful Heart
We love the sentiment behind this song from The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, which encourages children to be thankful all year round.
8 YouTube Christmas Songs For Preschoolers
And, if you’re still not inspired, we’ve got some super fun Christmas songs from YouTube that you can enjoy with your class:
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