The 14 jolliest Christmas songs for kids

A fitting tribute to Santa’s right-hand man. Although that little red nose might make Rudolph an outcast amongst the reindeer clan (shame, shame), it makes him the perfect guidling light – literally – for St. Nick’s Christmas Eve trip around the world. He’s truly gone down in history, and so has Burl Ives’ iconic take on the song from the legendary animated special. 

The kids won’t care that this viral sensation was penned by Parry Gripp, front man of ’90s pop-punk also-rans Nerf Herder. They will care that its happy-hardcore energy and promise of crunchy Mexican snacks cascading from the sky lands right in their listening sweet spots – and as a bonus, will drive the oldies slowly mad. Altogether now: cheese cheese cheese cheese cheese!

José Feliciano purists may need to close their ears, but youngsters will definitely get a kick out of this jaunty retooling of the Puerto Rican’s yuletide classic. Few superstar recording artists have been untouched by the Kidz Bop family-friendly cover versions (we stan for their U-rated cover of Dojo Cat’s Paint The Town Red). It’s a great way to get the Christmas spirit flowing and get them started on learning Spanish this December.

Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could’s jazzy salute to Santa's reindeer is nothing short of lovable. It sounds like a holiday anthem straight out of a jukebox. You’ll totally dig the old-school vibe. 

Some kids fly into a fit of rage when they get the wrong LOL doll under the Christmas tree. The kid at the centre of this classic (who is actually grown man/novelty songsmith Donald Yetter Gardner) simply wants the ability to bite down on a Christmas cookie. This kid/grown adult is a treasure. There are many versions of this classic out there, so pick your flavor, be it in the form of Alvin & the Chipmunks or the fabulous RuPaul. 

Who doesn’t love heading to the park to build a snowman? Channel your inner Anna and Elsa and throw it back to this original snowman jam. Who needs Olaf when you've got this pipe-smoking legend?

Before the Elf on the Shelf swooped in to act as Kris Kringle’s spy, children got worried about their naughty-or-nice-list status because of this jingle. In hopes of promoting good behavior during the holidays, the catchy number warns children that the man in the red suit is always watching! The Jackson 5 offered up the definitive version of this one, which takes a child’s-eye-view of the scene. But for Jersey kids, the Boss himself has made this a regular part of his set, even in the summer. 

‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ perfectly captures that anticipation kids feel on December 24 as Kris Kringle departs from the North Pole. The popular pop carol is sure to excite little ones as they ready Santa's milk and cookies before bedtime. There are many versions of this one, but we’re still partial to the cut by the original singin’ cowboy Gene Autry. 

Don’t forget to play this classic as you deck the halls with boughs of holly. The timeless tune will get you anxious for all of the season’s best activities: decorating, caroling and – a personal favorite of ours – munching on bites of pumpkin pie.  

Leave it to Kacey Musgraves to make one of the most annoying Christmas classics into something you actually wouldn’t mind hearing roughly 10,000 times every December. OK, maybe that’s pushing it, but still, the alt-country dynamo’s velvety vocals and her band’s endearing, half-stumbling oompah rendition are fun for the whole family.  

Long before Alvin, Simon and Theodore became the stars of their own animated show and a live action film franchise, they were simply the result of a novelty songwriter who fell in love with changing voice speeds on a record. And of that simplicity was born an undying classic. No somebody get that poor critter a hula hoop!

‘This Christmas feels like the very first Christmas to me’ sings Bikini Bottom’s happiest yellow metazoan. And while purists might question the presence of Squidward among the wise men of yore, it’s hard not to get swept up in the good cheer of SpongeBob’s quirky, old-fashioned Christmas anthem. 

Channeling those Nightmare Before Christmas vibes, Outta the Books put a yuletide – and even somewhat spooky – twist on a Christmas classic. It's the perfect new tune to add to your holiday playlist. 

The once and future king of kiddie songs briefly hung up his bananaphone to deliver unto us a sing-along call-and-response holiday song whose biggest surprise is its utter lack of obnoxiousness.