As much as you want your kids to have a jolly time during the holiday season, as a parent, you also want to ensure the kids are only exposed to appropriate content. To that effect, you’ve probably been mulling over a list of songs to entertain your family during Christmas. Choosing from the wealth of Christmas songs out there can be a tough task, especially if you are typically busy. But we’ve done all the work for you; we compiled the ultimate Christmas songs list for kids below.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
First on our list is Love to Sing’s rendition of the Christmas classic – We Wish You a Merry Christmas. This catchy song has an upbeat rhythm to it, so it is perfect for the most cheerful moments of the holidays. You may have this song playing in the background when the kids are wrapping or unwrapping the gifts.
This song is also a perfect fit for when all hands are on deck, decorating the house for Christmas. Just think of any joyous holiday moment, and it works.
Besides Love to Sing’s version, you may also check out the versions by Ashanti and Starlite Singers. For preschool, the Cocomelon version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas would be perfect.
If you want something calm and soothing, Bing Crosby’s We Wish You a Merry Christmas would do the job.
Deck the Halls
No song is more fitting than this when you are decorating the house for Christmas. This classical, upbeat Christmas song is pretty much about decoration, so just let it serve that purpose. Of course, you may also play it in other moments when a cheerful song would be perfect: on car rides, at a party, and when the kids just want to dance.
The Cocomelon and HeyKids versions of this song should be perfect for preschool kids. For everyone else, the versions by Love to Sing and Tenth Avenue North are nice choices.
Frosty the Snowman
Like many of the songs we’ve mentioned so far, Frosty the Snowman is a bubbly song. It should be no surprise that most of the songs are upbeat – it’s the way most kids are.
As the name says, Frosty the Snowman is about a snowman that magically came alive while some children were building him. Frosty became friends with the kids and played with them until the seasons changed, and the sun became hot enough to melt him away.
You may check out any of the Frosty the Snowman versions by Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Bublé, and The Jackson 5.
Silent Night
Silent Night is another song that is perfect for Christmas eve. Like Carol of the Bells, it can spur anticipation within the kids for Christmas. However, unlike Carol of the Bells, the renditions of Silent Night typically have a relaxed melody to them.
Silent Night by St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir, Michael Bublé, and Kelly Clarkson are three versions you can check out. Of course, there are many other versions, but we love these two.
O Holy Night
O Holy Night is another song you can play for the kids on the night before Christmas. Like Silent Night, it has a nostalgic and relaxing feel to it.
Besides playing O Holy Night as an anticipatory song on Christmas eve, it also fits perfectly into Christmas carols. So, you should consider this if your kids have a carol.
O Holy Night by Hillsong, HomeTown, and Mariah Carey are some of our favorites.
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells is one of the top upbeat music for Christmas. Whether for kids or adults, it is one song that can get everyone in a jolly mood.
You can have jingle bells playing when the kids are decorating for Christmas. You can also have it playing when they are having fun while making pastries. It also fits perfectly for car rides – everyone can sing along.
Besides its joyous theme, Jingle Bells is one of the classical and historical Christmas songs. So, you can teach your kids some facts about it. For one, you can tell them about how the actual title of the song was ‘The One Horse Open Sleigh.’
James Lord Pierpont composed Jingle Bells. The song was not meant to be a Christmas song. But a few years after it was written, it started growing into a Christmas song.
You can check out Jingle Bells by Love to Sing. If the kids are in preschool, Jingle Bells by The Countdown Kids, especially the video, might be interesting to them.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
This is a fun song and perfect for when it’s time for the kids to party and dance. It has a cheerful tempo to it, and the lyrics are pretty fun.
Besides having this song at a party or when the kids want to dance, you can play it as a car song. With lyrics that are easy to follow, it would be fun.
The version of this song by Love to Sing has a slower tempo to it. So, it may be more fitting for car rides. But the version by TinyDreams Stories has a faster tempo and would work if the kids want to dance.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Thanks to its mellow tempo, O Little Town of Bethlehem is a perfect Christmas carol song. Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus Christ, so it is only right that there’s a carol about it.
As with many other Christmas songs, there are many versions of O Little Town of Bethlehem. Some of our favorites were sung by Love to Sing, Chris Tomlin, and Elvis Presley.
You may use this song to spark a narration of the story of the birth of Jesus to your kids.
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
This is probably everyone’s favorite. Whether you are an adult or a kid, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town is that one Christmas song everyone enjoys. It not only builds enthusiasm for Christmas, but it is upbeat too.
You can have this song playing during the most cheerful parts of Christmas day. You could also have it playing on the days before Christmas; it will make the kids excited for Christmas.
Little Drummer Boy
Superb melody! Little Drummer Boy is a Christmas classic, it has a relaxed, but not too relaxed feel to it. It is a great choice for setting the tune on Christmas morning. You may also have it playing when wrapping gifts, on car rides, and on Christmas evening.
The Little Drummer Boy song is about a poor drummer boy who was invited to see a newborn king (Jesus). Since he was poor, he believed he did not have a worthy gift for the king. However, he chose to play his drum for the baby, and he played his best.
You can make the song a teachable moment for your kids, telling them about the virtues of giving and receiving.
Some of our favorite versions of the Little Drummer Boy were sung by Love to Sing, Pentatonix, and Carrie Underwood and her son.
The 12 Days of Christmas
The 12 Days of Christmas is another popular Christmas classic. There are many variations of the lyrics of this song. But one thing remains common: each one talks about the increasing number of gifts given to them from the first to the twelfth day of Christmas.
This song could be a fun way to help toddlers learn how to count. You may also reference it while teaching your kids about the virtues of giving.
Some of our favorite versions of this song include the Love to Sing version, the Pentatonix version, and the Super Simple Songs version.
Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bell Rock is very upbeat, so you should play it in the most cheerful moments or in the moments you want the kids to be most cheerful. It could be when wrapping or unwrapping gifts or on the car ride home from the store.
For preschool kids, the Little Action Kids version is perfect. But the Bobby Helms version (the original version) would be suitable for anyone.
Carol of the Bells
This song starts out with a relaxing feel. It is an easy and slow version for kids. After a while, it bursts into an upward tempo before dropping into a mellow rhythm again. For the most part, Carol of the Bells is upbeat. But at intervals, it introduces some mellowness.
You can have it playing when you want the kids to dance. Most of the renditions you will come across have no lyrics. The main thing is the melody which does the magic for sure.
Besides playing this song during fun Christmas activities, Carol of the Bells is a perfect song to play on Christmas eve. It has this enthusiastic feel to it; it sometimes feels like an announcement that Christmas is here.
Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry
Here’s another song exalting Rudolph, Santa’s 9th reindeer. The lyrics tell Rudolph to move faster, so Santa Claus gets to town early enough to do Santa duties. It is perfect for dances and parties.
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