Christmas Songs with Motions

During the holidays we love to learn and perform Christmas songs with motions. They are so much fun for toddlers and preschoolers! If you’re planning a Christmas concert or want to have a little something for kids to perform at a holiday celebration, these Christmas songs are great options too!

The kids (and I!) had so much fun with our Thanksgiving songs. The big kids were able to sing them all by the end of the month, and the babies even joined in with some of our hand movements. I couldn’t wait to put together our list of Christmas songs and action rhymes for preschoolers and toddlers. Of course, there are so many wonderful songs to sing this time of year, but I try to only include a few so that we can really learn them. These are our top preschool Christmas songs with actions for the month of December, but we will also sing a lot of traditional Christmas carols using picture books.

Many of these songs are adapted from the wonderful list at Everything Preschool.

Christmas Songs with Motions for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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GET A FULL WEEK OF CHRISTMAS THEME ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE PRESCHOOL CHRISTMAS LESSON PLANS.

Many of these songs involve hand movements but it can be fun to set aside some props to go along with your music time. You can make some of the items that go along with the songs and buy a few odds and ends to set up a Christmas carols center in the classroom or at home. Then use the props to decorate when you perform or video. Here are some of our top picks:

Santa and Elf Hats

Reindeer Antlers

Christmas Bulb Necklaces

Reindeer Pokey

The Turkey Trot was such a hit last month that I know the kids will enjoy this Christmas version of the Hokey Pokey.

Reindeer Pokey

(Tune: Hokey Pokey)

You put your antlers in.
You put your antlers out.
You put your antlers in,
and you shake them all about.
You do the reindeer pokey
and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

Additional verses:
Hooves
Fluffy Tail
Red Nose

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

The simplicity of this song will make it very easy for the preschoolers in our house to remember, and the simple hand movements will be great for encouraging the babies to join in.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas (Sign Language for Merry Christmas),
We wish you a Merry Christmas (Sign Language for Merry Christmas),
We wish you a Merry Christmas (Sign Language for Merry Christmas),
And a Happy New Year.

Now let’s all do a little clapping (clap),
Now let’s all do a little clapping(clap),
Now let’s all do a little clapping (clap),
And spread Christmas cheer (raise arms and make sprinkling action with fingers)

Now let’s all do a little jumping (jump),
Now let’s all do a little jumping(jump),
Now let’s all do a little jumping (jump)
And spread Christmas cheer (raise arms and make sprinkling action with fingers)

Now let’s all do a little waving (wave),
Now let’s all do a little waving(wave),
Now let’s all do a little waving(wave),
And spread Christmas cheer (raise arms and make sprinkling action with fingers)

We wish you a Merry Christmas (Sign Language for Merry Christmas),
We wish you a Merry Christmas (Sign Language for Merry Christmas),
We wish you a Merry Christmas (Sign Language for Merry Christmas),
And a Happy New Year.

Additional Verses Might Include:
Praying
Smiling
Running
Marching
Baking

You could even encourage your children to come up with an action word to include in a verse.

The Lights on the Tree

If you haven’t noticed, I love to use songs that build on the kids’ prior knowledge of familiar tunes. It helps them learn the songs and focus on the actions. I think they will have a lot of fun with this song to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus.

The Lights on the Tree

The lights on the tree go, blink, blink, blink…
Blink, blink, blink… blink, blink, blink.
The lights on the tree go blink, blink, blink…
All Christmas Day.

The presents at the house go rattle, rattle, rattle…
Rattle, rattle, rattle…rattle, rattle, rattle
The presents at the house go rattle, rattle, rattle…
All Christmas Day.

Other verses:
The train under the tree goes choo, choo, choo
The bells on the tree go jingle, jingle, jingle
The snowman at the house goes melt, melt, melt
The cookies at our house taste yummy, yummy, yummy

This is another great song that you could encourage your children to develop more verses for.

Away in a Manger

Love to Know Christmas has another great list of Christmas songs. I really liked this first verse of Away in a Manger.

Away in a Manger

Away in a Manger
No crib for a bed (cradle arms and rock imaginary baby)
The little Lord Jesus (sign language for Jesus)
Lay down His sweet head (fold hands together and lay head on them)
The stars in the sky (point upwards)
Looked down where He lay (move hands down twinkling fingers as you look down)
The Little Lord Jesus (sign language for Jesus)
Asleep on the hay (fold hands together and lay head on them)

What are your favorite Christmas songs with motions? I would love to hear some more ideas.

You might also enjoy our Thanksgiving Songs for Kids.

GET A FULL SET OF CHRISTMAS THEME ACTIVITIES

The 169-page Christmas Lesson Plan Set includes hands-on activities and these additional printables:

1) Beginning Letters Gift Sorting Game (in color and b/w)

2) Reindeer Math Mats (2 versions in color and b/w)

3) My Christmas Senses Activity Book Making Pieces

4) 0-35 Christmas Number Cards (2 versions in color and b/w)

5) Christmas Counting Syllables Sorting Game (in color and b/w)

6) Christmas Picture-Word Cards (in color and b/w)

7) Ornament Play Dough Mats

8) Candy Cane Play Dough Writing Task Cards (shapes, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, number 0-20)

9) Christmas Light Patterns Activity Pieces (in color and b/w)

Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Hands-On Holidays eBook

Less stress, more connecting this holiday season? Yes, PLEASE!

From the arrival of fall to Halloween to Thanksgiving and Christmas, the last four months of the year can be a wonderful opportunity for making family memories and spending time together, but they can also be stressful as we try to collect ideas, recipes, and activities to try together.

Stephanie Morgan, founder of Modern Parents Messy Kids, a site that’s been voted Best Craft Blog in Parents Magazine and one of babble.com’s Top 50 Craft Mom Blogs, recently released a new eBook to help us have a little less stress and more time to connect with family this year.

Stephanie’s goal is to make it easier on all of us to enjoy the holidays with our kids. Hands-On Holidays is 100 pages full of her family’s very favorite ways to connect as a family over the holiday season. I love the convenience of having so many ideas in one place, and most of them are simple enough for even my toddler to participate in.

The book includes picture book suggestions, DIY decor, activities, and treats. Bonus sections also offer even more ideas to enjoy. Click here to view more details.