15 Popular Christmas Songs to Teach Your Toddlers

With just over three months until the jolly season is upon us, if you plan on door knocking and singing as a family, attending a carols by candlelight or you just wish to celebrate the festive spirit with your little ones, we’ve got the top 15 Christmas songs that every toddler should have heard before. While no toddler will be able to memorize all 15 songs, with a little patience and exposure to the songs, you may hear them quietly singing one or two to themselves.

Ways to Introduce the Festive Season to Your Household

If you have a toddler running around your house, perhaps this will be the first Christmas that they will be able to unwrap their presents unassisted. It is a good idea to begin introducing the festive spirit a month or so in the lead up to Christmas. The month of December is often an exciting month for young child especially for those who are 3 and older and have a better understanding of Christmas.

There are a number of ways that you can begin to celebrate the big day before it arrives with your children. Whether you are religious or non-religious, Christmas these days is more so a time to celebrate family and giving.

Ways to celebrate the festive season with toddlers:

• Sing and Play Christmas Carols (See our top 15 carols below)
• Watch Christmas Themed Movies at Home or at the Cinemas
• Create Some Christmas Craft
• Attend Christmas Events such as Carols by Candlelight
• Create a Christmas Lay-by with your Toddler for Other Family Members
• Purchase a Gift for the Giving Tree
• Go Ice-Skating
• Purchase an Advent Calendar
• Decorate the House and Put Up the Christmas Tree
• Go Look at Christmas Lights

See more family Christmas Traditions here.

What Type of Christmas Songs Are Appropriate for Toddlers?

While generally Christmas songs are G rated, the simpler the Christmas song, the easier it will be for your toddler to remember the words. If the song has humor or simple lyrics, your toddler will catch on. Just like us adults, anything with a catchy tune such as Jingle Bells is also a lot easier to remember. Many Christmas songs have religious backing and it is up to you as a parent to either embrace these songs or teach your child other universal songs.

Short Christmas Rhymes for Toddlers

If you have a younger child, teaching theme a short rhyme that has a catchy rhythm rather than a song may be more effective. We have added four short rhymes relating to Christmas below that are ideal for toddlers of all ages.

15 Christmas Songs for Toddlers

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Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow,
in a one-horse open sleigh.
O’er the fields we go,
laughing all the way.
Bells on bobtails ring,
making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing
a sleighing song tonight.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride
in a one-horse open sleigh.

Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride
in a one-horse open sleigh.

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Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say,
“Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
“Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,
you’ll go down in history!”

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Santa Claus in Coming to Town

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

He’s making a list
And checking it twice;
He’s gonna find out Who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
Oh! You better watch out!

You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town

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Christmas Pudding

Christmas Pudding, Christmas Pudding,
Steaming hot, steaming hot,
Sprinkle on the sugar, sprinkle on the sugar,
Eat it up, eat it up.

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Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for his bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying he makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
‘Til morning is nigh.

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Here Comes Santa Claus

Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane,
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Pullin’ on the reins.
Bells are ringin’, children singin’,
All is merry and bright.
So hang your stockings and say your prayers,
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane,
He’s got a bag that’s filled with toys
For boys and girls again.
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
Oh what a beautiful sight,
So jump in bed, and cover your head,
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

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Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

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We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!

Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin,
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!

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Joy to the World

Joy to the world!
The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart
Prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the world!
The Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods,
Rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

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Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me
pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see,
pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
pa rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him
pa rum pum pum pum,
when we come.

Little Baby
pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too,
pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our King
pa rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you!
pa rum pum pum
on my drum.

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Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air

What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh

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O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree
Your leaves are so unchanging
O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree
Your leaves are so unchanging

Not only green when
Summer’s here
But also when it’s cold and drear
O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree
Your leaves are so unchanging

O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree
Much pleasure you do give me
O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree
Much pleasure you do give me

How often has the Christmas tree
Given me the greatest glee
O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree
Much pleasure you do give me

From top to bottom
You’re so bright
There’s only splendor for the sight
O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree
Your lights are shining brightly

O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree
Your lights are shining brightly

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The Twelve Days (6 Days for Toddlers) of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtledoves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens
Two turtledoves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtledoves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtledoves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtledoves
And a partridge in a pear tree

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S-A-N-T-A

I know a man with a long white beard
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A
And Santa is his name-o!

He wears a red hat and big black boots
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A
And Santa is his name-o!

Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A
And Santa is his name-o!

And Santa is his name-o!

He slides down the chimney with a pack on his back
And santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A
And Santa is his name-o!

He leaves toys, under the Christmas tree
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A
And Santa is his name-o!

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Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star

Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star
Way up high is where you are
Shining bright for all to see
On the top of our tree
Twinkle Twinkle Christmas star
Way up high is where you are

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