3 Nativity Christmas Songs For Pre-Schoolers
I love Christmas Songs. I can’t wait to get my Christmas Songs Album playing in the house and get bopping away to Rocking Around the Christmas Tree! I love the tradition of the Salvation Army Brass Bands and carol concerts by candlelight. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
And we all know that young kids LOVE to sing. So here are some simple Christmas Songs to get you and your little one singing away!
1. Silent Night
What can I say? It’s a classic! The traditional carol does have a few complicated words in it, though, so I’ve simplified it and condensed the story into one verse.
Silent night, precious night.
All is calm. See the sight;
Jesus lying in Mary’s arms.
Shepherds come. Wise men see a star.
Baby Jesus is born.
Baby Jesus is born.
2. We Know A King
This simple song is written to the tune of What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor? It’s a great one for toddlers because it’s very repetitive so they can join in easily. Throw in a few costumes and this song can even be performed as a very short nativity.
We know a king born in a stable.
We know a king born in a stable.
We know a king born in a stable,
And His name is Jesus.
Chorus
Halle- hallelujah!
Halle- hallelujah!
Halle- hallelujah!
And His name is Jesus.
We know a King that shepherds worshipped.
We know a King that shepherds worshipped.
We know a King that shepherds worshipped,
And His name is Jesus
Chorus
We know a King who had a star.
We know a King who had a star.
We know a King who had a star,
And His name is Jesus.
Chorus
We know a King some Wise Men bowed to.
We know a King some Wise Men bowed to.
We know a King some Wise Men bowed to,
And His name is Jesus.
Chorus
3. Away In A Manger
This is another traditional carol that I’ve re-written for children. I don’t think children should have to sing songs that they don’t understand, just for traditions’ sake; after all, the Christmas story is all about God becoming a human so that we could understand Him.
Away in a manger, no cot for a bed.
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The shepherds on the hillside,
Came to worship for they,
Had been told by the angels
He was there in the hay.
So those are three Christmas Songs I’ve used with my kids and in the toddler group I run. Do you have a Christmas song that works well with little ones? Or do you have a favourite Christmas Song or Carol?
[…] For a Christmas-themed song session, check out my post on Christmas Songs For Preschoolers. […]
Very festive. I love a traditional christmas carol and went to the christmas service at Birmingham Children’s Hospital chapel two year’s ago and it eas beautiful with the staff and children joining in and very moving. Thanks for joining us for #marvmondays
I’ve never heard song number 2, but I love 1 & 3. In fact we sang ‘Away in a Manger’ at my daughter’s music class this morning. All the children (toddlers who are just 2 or younger) sat still the whole time listening. It was lovely. Thanks for sharing! #MarvMondays
Just stopping by to say I found you linked before me on #FamilyFun. Have been singing these songs since the start of the week btw!
There’s something really special about children singing, I think 🙂
I love to hear children singing Christmas songs, I think Jingle Bells was one of the first my kids learned followed by Away in a manger. #MarvMondays
Oh my 5yo loves Jingle Bells!
I’ve not heard of number 2 either. My 3 year old brought home a booklet of nativity songs to practice. I’d only heard of half of them. Thankfully I found them on you tube so I know the tune now. I think little donkey is my favourite. #marvmondays
Little Donkey is such a cute one! I remember singing that in one of our school nativities when I was about 8yrs old.
You’ve just reminded me of our baby group last Christmas. All year we sing songs about tractors and bobbins. The kids were so confused when we switched to Christmas songs for one day !! That said I may hate myself for saying I like away in a manger one day!! Thanks for linking up to #familyfun
Oh yes it was a bit like that with ours, but we did “Christmas Song Time” for each week in December so they picked it up eventually 🙂
Haha these are fab, you are so talented! Have you heard of the tiddlywinks books? I use these for my toddler group and one of them is dedicated to putting religious words to nursery rhyme tunes. I used some of the Christmassy ones yesterday (though yours are better)! #FamilyFun
Oh I’ve never come across tiddlywinks. It sounds like a great idea! I do a “Baby Bible Time” session at my church too and my friend and I have had great fun putting bible stories to nursery rhyme tunes!
I love away in a manger – I need to sing that to the kids! I have been singing songs to the kids but I keep having to look up the lyrics – it has been a while #MarvMondays
Oh yes Away in a Manger is a classic! Thanks for commenting, Yvonne. L
Ah what a wonderful idea, Away in a Manger is my favourite Christmas carol. We haven’t had any carols with the kids yet but they love singing so perhaps I should get downloading. Thanks for the tip lovey and thanks for sharing it at #familyfun
I love Christmas songs – it’s not Christmas without Silent night and Rudolph, the rednose raindeer:)) #coolomumclub
Rudolph is great. My daughter did it at her nursery concert last year, complete with actions. So much fun!
These are brilliant – I wish someone ha thought of this for my 4 year olds carol concert – you should see the song list they have to learn! Frosty the snowman has some epic lyrics for even me to remember ha ha!
Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub
Oh yes Frosty The Snowman is a really tricky one! Does ANYBODY actually know all the words to that one?!
I’ve been singing all the Christmas songs for my 18-month-old. She’s too young to sing along, so anything with hand guestures/clapping is a big hit. Hard to think of movements that would be appropriate for Silent Night! #PoCoLo
Hehe maybe lots of fingers-on-lips (as my old primary school teacher used to say)?!
My preschooler has her nativity next week, she’s been singing Away in a Manger (in some form or other!) for a few weeks now! So cute, her little brother tries to join in too!
Aaaw that’s cute! My toddler copies her older sister all the time. It makes my heart melt!
Some absolute classics there for sure! Popping over from #PoCoLo
I ❤️Christmas songs too and have been singing Rudolph the red nose reindeer, when Santa got stuck in the chimney and the reindeer hokey kokey with my class of 5 year olds. #POCOLO
Aaah the reindeer hokey cokey is a new one to me this year, but I love it and have been teaching it to my toddler group!
Love Silent Night and Away in a Manger and the way you’ve simplified them is great – makes it much easier for little ones to understand. I’ve never come across the second one before but I can imagine that one being quite catchy! #coolmumclub
Thank you, Louise. I think it’s important for them to be able to understand what they’re singing (or at least have a chance at being able to understand it, rather than being given archaic language to use just because it’s tradition)
I remember Away in a Manger from school as a kid. Love that one. I haven’t heard the second one before.
Our carols by candlelight is coming up soon too. I love it! It gets me in the festive mood! #pocolo
We have a carols by candlelight service at church too! I love it!
It’s great. This one is run by a local church but is in the park so we take a little picnic and then they have fireworks at the end.
I think it’s a great idea to teach little ones carols. It’s all part of the tradition of Christmas.
I teach the piano, and I’m always amazed how few carols my young pupils know. We usually end up with Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and We Wish you a Merry Christmas. It’s great when I get a student who actually knows more 🙂
Keep up the good work
#familyfun
Ah I didn’t know you were a piano teacher, Suzie! I used to teach piano and singing (although Flute is my main instrument). I think it’s sad that kids don’t learn Christmas carols anymore – it’s part of our heritage…
I hadn’t heard of the second song either but I’m sure Miss Tot will like it. I love Away in a Manger though – it’s my favourite carol – especially when you see littlies singing it. So cute. X #coolmumclub
Oh I know – it’s so cute when little ones sing! I was at the school Christmas assembly today and they sang Away In A Manger – beautiful!
My little man loves Jingle Bells. Sings it all year round!! #pocolo
He has good taste! Jingle Bells is mega catchy!
[…] as a musician, music is a BIG part of Christmas for me, from the Christmas Album on repeat, to school nativities, to carol concerts, and conducting my […]
Such a sweet list. I don’t know the middle one at all but I’m off to find it now on YouTube! #coolmumclub
Ah I doubt you’ll find it on YouTube as it’s a Lucy At Home adaptation of an Easter kids song (We have a king who rides a donkey… and his name is Jesus)
[…] week, I shared some Christmas songs that are easy for little ones to pick up, and this week I’m going to give you a simple account of […]
Ah this is so lovely. It’s great that you re-write the songs for little ones. I love Silent Night, I used to sing it to my boys at Christmas when they were going to sleep. 🙂
Thanks for linking to #pocolo
Silent Night is such a gentle tune. I can definitely imagine it being a good lullaby
I’m a one for Rocking around the Christmas Tree too – fab song. As for litteleys I love to hear them sing and we wish you a merry christmas is always a fave as there’s lots of sss in there which makes it super cute. Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo x