12 Christmas Action Songs & Finger Plays for Preschool & Kindergarten

One of the best things about Christmas has to be the music, right? We had such a lovely time listening to Immy sing with the choir at her school carol service last week, there may have even been the odd tear as I watched my big girl get carried away, singing with great gusto and pure joy. While many traditional carols may be beyond younger children, there is plenty to make you smile in this collection of Christmas themed action songs and finger plays. Plus, they’re fun for bigger kids too!

RELATED: We have collated a whole collection of children’s rhymes, songs and finger plays across a range of themes as a handy resource for preschool and kindergarten teachers.

Old St Nicholas Had a Tree
(to the tune of Old McDonald Had a Farm)

Old St. Nicholas had a tree (form tree with arms)
Ho, ho ho ho ho!
And on that tree he had some horns (blow horns)
Ho ho ho ho ho
With a toot toot here and a toot toot there
Here a toot, there a toot
, every where a toot toot
Old St. Nicholas had a tree (form tree with arms)
Ho, ho ho ho ho!

Repeat with;
Lights – flash flash (flash fingers)

Candy canes – yum yum (rub tummy)

Drums – boom boom (bang imaginary drums

Bells – ring ring (ring imaginary bell)

Stars – twinkle twinkle (twinkle fingers)

Harps, Halos
(to the tune of Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)

Harps, halos, flap your wings, flap your wings,
Harps, halos, flap your wings, flap your wings,
For we are angels, hear us sweetly sing,
Harps, halos, flap your wings, flap your wings.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas Action Song

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a 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 above head).

Now let’s all do a little jumping (jump)

Now let’s all do a little hopping (hop)

Now let’s all do a little whirling (spin around)

Now let’s all do a little stretching (stretch up high)

Now let’s all do a little dancing (dance)

Now let’s all do a little waving (wave)

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year.

Dance Like Snowflakes
(sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)

Dance like snowflakes,
Dance like snowflakes,
In the air,
In the air,
Whirling, twirling snowflakes,
Whirling, twirling snowflakes,
Here and there,
Here and there.

Reindeer Pokey
(sung to the tune of The Hokey Pokey)
You put your antlers in,
You put your antlers out,
You put you 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!

Repeat with;
You put your hooves in

You put your red nose in

You put your fluffy tail in

You put your reindeer body in

Five Mince Pies
(sung to the tune of 5 Currant Buns)

Five mince pies in the baker’s shop,
Round and fat with sugar on the top,
Along came (insert child’s name) with a penny one day,
Bought a mince pie and took it away.

Four mince pies….

Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star

Twinkle, twinkle Christmas star,
How I wonder what you are,
Santa needs your shining light,
Guide him on his way tonight.

Ten Little Bells
(sung to the tune of Ten Little Indians)

One little, two little, three Christmas bells,
Four little, five little, six Christmas bells,
Seven little, eight little, nine Christmas bells.
Ten Christmas bells to ring.

Here is the Chimney

Here is the chimney (make fist with thumb inside),
Here is the top (put other hand over fist)
Open the lid (remove hand from fist),
And out Santa will pop (pop up thumb from fist).

I’m a Little Santa
(sung to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a little Santa, short and fat,
Here is my beard and here is my sack,
On Christmas Eve I hop in my sleigh,
With a “Ho ho ho” I’m on my way.

Santa’s Workshop

Here is Santa’s workshop (form peak with both hands),
Here is Santa Claus (hold up thumb),
Here are Santa’s little elves (wiggle fingers),
Putting toys upon the shelves.

Christmas Time

See the snowflakes falling 
(use fingers to make dancing snowflakes)
,
See the candles glow (hold up index finger like a candle),
See the wreaths upon the door 
(form wreath shape with fingers),
It’s Christmas time I know!

Gingerbread Men


Stir a bowl of gingerbread, smooth and spicy brown (pretend to stir),
Roll it with the rolling pin up and down (making rolling motions),
Take a cookie cutter and make some little men 
(cut cookies with imaginary cutter),
Put them in the oven ’til half past ten 
(pretend to put cookie tray into oven).

Do you have a favourite Christmas rhyme or action song?

More Christmas fun…