Christmas Fingerplays for Preschoolers: Songs & Action Rhymes

Christmas songs and fingerplays are a fun way to add movement to circle time during the holidays. Toddlers and preschoolers can clap, wiggle, pretend, and join in—even while they’re still learning the words.

This collection includes Christmas fingerplays for preschoolers and easy action songs to sing at circle time. Each song includes the familiar tune it goes to, so you can start singing together right away. The fingerplays are spoken rhymes with simple motions.\

Christmas Fingerplays for Kids

Five Little Gingerbread Cookies

Hold up five fingers. Wiggle one finger away each time a cookie runs off.

Five little cookies on a tray,
One ran out the door to play.
Four little cookies, warm and sweet,
One ran off on dancing feet.

Continue counting down until there are no cookies left.

No little cookies on the tray,
They all ran off to dance and play!

Santa’s Chimney

Make a fist for the chimney and cover it with your other hand. Pop your thumb out at the end.

Here is a chimney, straight and tall.
Santa is getting ready for his call.
The night is quiet, the stars shine bright—
Up pops Santa on Christmas night!

Christmas Presents

See the many presents, (Point to eye.)
by the Christmas tree, (Sweep hands in wide half-circle then form tree with hands.)
Some for you, (Point to others.)
And some for me. (Point to self.)

Long ones, (Spread hands wide apart.)
Tall ones, (Hold hand high above head.)
Short ones, too. (Hold hands close together.)
And here is a round one (Make a circle with arms).
Wrapped in blue.

Isn’t it fun to look and see, (Point to eyes.)
All the presents,
by the Christmas tree? (Sweep hands in wide half-circle then form tree with hands.)

Five Little Christmas Trees

Five little Christmas trees, (Hold up five fingers.)
Stood all alone. (Stand up straight, arms at sides.)
Their hearts were very sad, (Make sad face.)
For they hadn’t found a home. (Shake head no, while looking sad.)

Chop! went the ax. (Pretend to swing ax)
Down fell one tree. (Pretend to fall to the ground)
And off it went with a happy family. (March in place, smiling.)

Continue counting down to one.

Snowflakes

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

Begin standing with your hands in the air.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around. (Dance and spin around in circles.)
Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the ground. (Wiggle your fingers, then touch the floor.)
Snowflakes, snowflakes, in the air. (Stand with your hands in the air.)
Snowflakes, snowflakes, everywhere. (Wiggle your fingers and move your arms back and forth.)
Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around. (Dance and spin around in circles.)
Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the ground. (Wiggle your fingers, then touch the floor.)

A Shy Santa

Hide your face with your hands, then use your fingers to pretend Santa is running away.

Isn’t it the strangest thing,
That Santa is so shy? (Hide your face with your hands.)
We can never, never catch him, (Make fingers run.)
No matter how we try.
It isn’t any use to watch, (Hold a hand to your eyes and look.)
Because my parents said,
“Santa Claus will only come
When children are in bed!” (Shake a finger.)

Christmas Songs for Preschoolers With Actions

These Christmas action songs use familiar tunes, making them easy for children to follow. Sing them during circle time and invite the children to do the motions in parentheses.

Snowflakes Falling

Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

Snowflakes, snowflakes, drift on down.
Make a blanket on the ground.
Float past rooftops, float past trees.
Swirl around upon the breeze.
Snowflakes, snowflakes, soft and white.
Shimmer in the moonlit night.

(Wiggle fingers down from high in the air, then gently spin.)

Santa Is Coming

Tune: “Are You Sleeping?” (“Frère Jacques”)

Santa’s coming, Santa’s coming,
Soon tonight, soon tonight.
Hear the reindeer prancing,
Hear the sleigh bells dancing.
Ding, ding, dong.
Ding, ding, dong.

(Pretend to listen, then tap your knees like reindeer hooves.)

SANTA

Tune: “BINGO”

There is a man we know so well,
And SANTA is his name, Ho.
S-A-N-T-A
S-A-N-T-A
S-A-N-T-A
And SANTA is his name HO!

Repeat the song, leaving out one letter each time and clapping in place of the missing letter.

Dance Like Snowflakes

Tune: “Frère Jacques” (“Are You Sleeping?”)

Snow is falling, snow is falling,
Soft and white, soft and white.
Twirl around like snowflakes,
Twirl around like snowflakes.
Touch the ground, touch the ground.

(Spin gently, then crouch down low.)

O Candy Cane

Tune: “O Christmas Tree”

O candy cane, O candy cane,
You’re minty and delightful.
O candy cane, O candy cane,
We love you, every biteful.
Your tasty flavor is so sweet,
Your handle makes you fun to eat,
O candy cane, O candy cane,
We love your stripes and flavor!

There’s A Little Elf Sitting On My Nose

Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know it”

There’s a little elf sitting on my nose,
There’s a little elf sitting on my nose,
He is sitting on my nose, then off away he goes,
There’s a little elf sitting on my nose.

There’s a little elf sitting on my knee,

He is sitting on my knee, then off away he flees,

There’s a little elf sitting on my knee.

There’s a little elf sitting on my head,

He is sitting on my head, then off he goes to bed,

There’s a little elf sitting on my head.

Repeat with actions such as stomp your feet, turn around, or wiggle your fingers.

The Reindeer Pokey (Tune: “The Hokey Pokey”)

You put your right hoof in,
You put your right hoof out.
You put your right hoof in,
And you shake it all about!
You do the reindeer pokey,
and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

(Continue with left hoof, right antler [hands on head], left antler, tail, and red nose…)

Santa’s Workshop

Tune: “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”

Santa’s workshop is so busy, E-I-E-I-O.
And in the shop he builds a toy, E-I-E-I-O.
With a tap-tap here, and a tap-tap there,
Here a tap, there a tap, everywhere a tap-tap.
Santa’s workshop is so busy, E-I-E-I-O!

(Pretend to tap a toy together.)

Christmas Time Is Here

Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”

Christmas time is here again,
Here again, here again.
Christmas time is here again,
Let’s sing a song today.

(Clap hands together on the last line.)

Ring the Bells

Tune: “Jimmy Crack Corn”

Jingle bells are ringing now,
Jingle bells are ringing now,
Jingle bells are ringing now,
Christmas Day is near.

Repeat the verse with new actions: sway side to side, tap your knees, or reach up high.

The Mittens in the Snow

Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Warm, warm, warm, and dry
Mittens feel so nice.
So grab a pair in the chilly air
Or in the snow and ice.

Tips for Using Christmas Songs and Fingerplays at Circle Time

Keep it short. One or two songs or rhymes work well for a quick transition or movement break.
Show the motions. Children can follow along before they know all the words.
Repeat favorites. Repetition helps toddlers and preschoolers anticipate the words and join in.
Offer seated motions. Children can clap, wiggle their fingers, or move their arms while sitting.
Let children choose an action. Invite them to pick the next movement for the group.
Adjust the motions to fit your group. Skip movements that don’t work for your space or the children’s ages.

More Christmas Activities for Preschoolers

Pair these Christmas songs and fingerplays with a holiday story, craft, or sensory activity:

Looking for more crafts and activities? Check out our index for 100+ kids’ activities! Find activities by theme, materials, skills, age, and much more!