The 25 Best Christmas Songs for Kids

For people of all ages, music is one of the best parts about Christmastime.

But while adults might favor bestselling holiday classics like Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” — or possibly even more contemporary classics such as Mariah Carey’s chart-topping “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” — kids deservedly have claim to a major chunk of the seasonal music canon that better reflects their perspectives on December 25. That includes iconic theme songs from evergreen cartoons like Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas, as well as the best tracks from holiday episodes of children’s TV programs and enduring standalone singalongs like “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”

But don’t be too quick to write any of those songs off as mere “kids’ music.” Many of the Xmas tracks geared toward our world’s tiniest humans compete with their more mature counterparts on the charts every year, with “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” often finishing each year in the top 40 of Billboard‘s annual Holiday 100 ranking.

Save lyrics about kissing under the mistletoe and beating holiday traffic for the grown-ups. The kiddos crave whimsy, humor and odes to presents, cookies and Mr. Claus — as they should. Keep reading to see Billboard‘s 25 favorite family-friendly Christmas tunes to enjoy with the littles in your life below.