When it comes to December, it’s the season that makes you excited and a little restless, with Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and preparations for the New Year.
Especially as kids, there was so much to look forward to—not just Christmas, but winter break and playing in the snow when it fell.
In this article, we’ll introduce children’s songs perfect for this wonderful month of December, along with playful songs everyone can enjoy and traditional nursery rhymes that have long been popular.
Most of these are for children, but there are also moving masterpieces that resonate deeply with adults.
Try listening while feeling the crisp air outside, or while staying cozy and warm indoors.
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- [Snow Songs for Winter] Children's Snow Nursery Rhymes and Hand-Play Songs
- [Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
- Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with
- [Christmas Songs] Christmas songs to sing with children
- Songs we want children to listen to! Recommended Christmas songs and nursery rhymes
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
- Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about animals
- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about food
- [Children’s Song] A Collection of Hand Play Songs Perfect for Christmas
- The World of Kagoshima Folk Songs: Traditional Melodies that Carry On the Spirit of the Hometown
December children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: Fun winter hand-play songs (1–10)
Happy Happy ChristmasNEW!Baby Shark and Pinkfong
This Christmas song, sung by a beloved character adored by children around the world, was released on YouTube in November 2020 and was included in the December 2021 album “Pinkfong Baby Shark Special.” The lyrics convey the joy of eagerly awaiting Christmas and a warm message encouraging everyone to sing and have fun together.
With its bright, lighthearted melody and the easy-to-remember “doo doo doo” phrase repeated throughout, even young children can quickly sing along.
It’s a perfect song for singing and dancing with the whole family at Christmas gatherings or parties at home.
snowMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)
The song “Yuki” (Snow), famous as a winter children’s song, is one that many people sang in their childhood regardless of generation.
Though the lyricist and composer are unknown, it has long been cherished in Japan as a Ministry of Education school song.
Many people may have learned from this song that cats love sitting under the kotatsu.
It’s often confused with another song that begins “Yuki ya konkon,” but the title is actually “Yuki.” It’s a very cheerful piece that evokes images of children and animals delighting in the falling snow and dashing about.
Christmas is the best!NEW!Little Angel
A heartwarming Christmas song that kids can sing along to and enjoy the fun of the holiday! It’s packed with all the Christmas elements children love—presents, trees, and even an appearance by Santa Claus.
Celebrating the joy of spending a special day with family, this song was included on the album “Little Angel Christmas” in November 2024.
Little Angel is a production brand beloved around the world for creating many children’s songs and nursery rhymes.
Its bright, bouncy melody is perfect for singing at Christmas parties! Highly recommended for enjoying a fun family time with children who are eagerly awaiting Christmas.
Ticotin, the Winter FairyTsubasa Suzuki, Kazuto Ozawa
A song brimming with the spirit of winter has been born.
Created by Tsubasa Suzuki and Kazuto Ozawa, it features lyrics depicting a fairy casting a spell and fun choreography that children can enjoy.
Included on the CD “Ai wo Gyugyutto!” released in May 2022, it has become widely beloved in early childhood education settings.
As a play song that incorporates tickling and friendly interaction, it’s perfect for strengthening bonds between parents and children, as well as between caregivers and kids.
Why not sing and play along during winter events or joyful moments with family?
Cha-cha-cha of the SnowmanLyrics and Composition: Akira Tashiga
“Yukidaruma no Cha Cha Cha” is a popular song often sung in preschools and a winter children’s song that comes with fun hand motions.
Since it’s snowing, you make a snowman—and amazingly, the snowman starts to dance! It’s a tune that makes you feel great when you dance together with friends and family.
When it snows, try singing this song while building a snowman.
The hand-motion choreography is simple, so even little kids can copy it.
Listening to this song might spark interest—“What’s a snowman?”—and get children excited about winter.
The department store with the penguin logoLyrics/Music: Seiji Inukai
Seiji Inukai’s work is drawing attention as a fun hand-play song perfect for the winter season.
The piece features a penguin as the protagonist who tours the different floors of a department store, a storyline that sparks children’s imagination.
Its simple, easy-to-remember melody and rhythmic lyrics are particularly appealing.
It’s widely loved in nurseries and kindergartens and is also used as teaching material, such as in sketchbook theater.
Designed to suit various stages of child development, it’s recommended for a wide age range from 1 to 5 years old.
Sing it with family and friends, and it’s sure to chase away the winter chill!
Santa Claus the ScatterbrainLyrics by Osamu Yoshioka / Music by Asei Kobayashi
The multi-talented Asei Kobayashi composed the Christmas song “Awatembō no Santa Claus” (The Hasty Santa Claus).
It’s a cute song featuring a scatterbrained Santa, and it was even sung on NHK’s children’s program “Okaasan to Issho.” Santa comes before Christmas, tries to go down the chimney to deliver presents, and ends up falling in.
It’s a situation where most would feel discouraged, but this Santa’s charm is that he doesn’t forget to enjoy himself even then.
I hope the children who listen to this song will grow up to be as resilient and cheerful as Santa.