40 Christmas Songs for Kids, from Rudolph to Santa Tell Me

What are the best Christmas songs for kids?

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman" are the Christmas songs every child knows. For laughs, "The Chipmunk Song" and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" are favorites, and for the youngest children, "Away in a Manger" is gentle and easy to learn.

Classic Christmas songs for kids

1. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", Gene Autry: the story of the reindeer who saved Christmas.
2. "Frosty the Snowman", Jimmy Durante: the voice of the 1969 TV special.
3. "Here Comes Santa Claus", Gene Autry: written after he rode in a Hollywood Christmas parade.
4. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", The Jackson 5: a bright 1970 version kids love.
5. "Jingle Bells", traditional: the first Christmas song most kids learn.
6. "Up on the Housetop", traditional: Santa's sleigh lands on the roof.
7. "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas", traditional: a child's quiet wish list for Santa.
8. "Deck the Halls", traditional: the fa-la-la sing-along.
9. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", traditional: the classic caroling song.
10. "The Twelve Days of Christmas", traditional: a counting game set to music.
11. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", Brenda Lee: recorded when she was just 13.
12. "A Holly Jolly Christmas", Burl Ives: the snowman narrator from Rudolph.

Funny Christmas songs kids love

13. "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", Spike Jones: for every kid with a gap-toothed smile.
14. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", Gayla Peevey: sung by a 10-year-old in 1953.
15. "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", Alvin and the Chipmunks: squeaky voices and a wish list.
16. "Must Be Santa", Mitch Miller: a call-and-response song about Santa's look.
17. "Suzy Snowflake", Rosemary Clooney: a playful song about the first snow.

Songs from Christmas movies and TV specials

18. "Silver and Gold", Burl Ives: from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
19. "We're a Couple of Misfits", from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: for every kid who feels different.
20. "Put One Foot in Front of the Other", from Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town: a lesson in taking small steps.
21. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", Thurl Ravenscroft: the deep-voiced Grinch song.
22. "Welcome Christmas", from How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: the Whos singing together.
23. "Christmas Time Is Here", Vince Guaraldi Trio: sung by children in A Charlie Brown Christmas.
24. "Where Are You Christmas?", Faith Hill: from the 2000 Grinch movie.
25. "Believe", Josh Groban: from The Polar Express.
26. "Hot Chocolate", from The Polar Express: a fast, fun song from the train.

Modern Christmas songs for kids

27. "Santa Tell Me", Ariana Grande: catchy and upbeat.
28. "Christmas Tree Farm", Taylor Swift: about a childhood Christmas on a farm.
29. "Cozy Little Christmas", Katy Perry: warm and cheerful.
30. "Santa's Coming for Us", Sia: a bouncy modern classic.
31. "Underneath the Tree", Kelly Clarkson: big, joyful and easy to dance to.

Christmas songs for preschool and toddlers

32. "Away in a Manger", traditional: soft and simple for little voices.
33. "Silent Night", traditional: a gentle bedtime carol.
34. "Feliz Navidad", José Feliciano: an easy bilingual chorus.
35. "Christmas Is Coming", traditional: a short rhyme children can chant or sing.
36. "The Little Drummer Boy", Harry Simeone Chorale: the drum sounds are fun to copy.

Christmas songs for a school program

37. "We Need a Little Christmas", from Mame: an upbeat opener.
38. "Jingle Bell Rock", Bobby Helms: easy to add simple dance moves.
39. "Sleigh Ride", Leroy Anderson: the school band favorite.
40. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", Dean Martin: a swinging closer.

How to choose Christmas songs for kids

For toddlers, pick short songs with lots of repetition and hand motions, like "Jingle Bells" and "Up on the Housetop". Preschoolers love songs with a story, like "Rudolph" and "Frosty", and older kids enjoy the funny songs and movie favorites. For a mixed age group, the traditional carols work because parents and grandparents can sing along too.

Christmas songs for preschool circle time

In a preschool classroom, sing one familiar song every day during December so children learn the words by heart, then add a new one each week. Shakers, jingle bells and scarves turn songs like "Jingle Bells" and "Feliz Navidad" into movement activities, and a slow carol like "Silent Night" helps everyone settle down before rest time.

Christmas songs for a car ride or family party

For a long holiday drive, mix the classics with the funny songs and the movie favorites so everyone gets a turn. At a family party, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Jingle Bell Rock" get kids and grandparents dancing together. For more, see our funny Christmas songs, Christmas dance songs and best Christmas songs.

A Christmas song with your child's name

Kids light up when they hear their own name in a song. A personalized Christmas song can include their name, their wish list, the family pet and the traditions you share, sung in a cheerful pop or jingle-bell style. It makes a magical gift on Christmas morning, and they will ask to hear it again all season.

How to create a Christmas song for a child

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, acoustic, country and more.
2. Add your child's name.
3. Share three things they love about Christmas.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a Christmas song all their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.