Inside: A fun collection of Christmas action songs & finger plays for preschool & kindergarten.

One of the best things about Christmas has to be the music, right? In fact, it’s not unusual for carols and Christmas songs to be played in our house before October even ends! And while many traditional carols may be beyond younger children, there are plenty of fun Christmas action songs and finger plays that are perfect for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners. Plus, they’re fun for bigger kids too!

Below you’ll find twelve awesome Christmas songs for kids, all of which have fun actions or are in the form of a finger play rhyme. Many of them are variations of common, traditional children’s songs and rhymes. And if you scroll all of the way down, you’ll even find a set of free, printable song sheets and song cards to download and print!

And for even more festive holiday songs, check out our collections of Christmas Songs for Toddlers & Preschoolers and Christmas Brain Breaks for songs and dances to get kids moving and grooving.

12 Christmas Action Songs & Finger Plays

for Preschool & Kindergarten

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 (pretend to 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)

The Angel Song
(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.

Repeat for: Four mince pies….three…

Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star
(sung to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little 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.

(hold up one finger to represent each Christmas bell)

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).

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.

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