You don't need a one-horse sleigh, glistening snow, or angelic voices to enjoy caroling with your family. The key to making caroling fun for kids is mixing cheery music with lots of holiday spirit!
Check Your List
Before heading out, use this checklist to get ready:
- Invite your children's friends and their parents to join you.
- Make songbooks. Kids ages 3 to 7 can create book covers, while 8 to 12 year olds help you write out or print copies of lyrics to favorite songs.
- Pick a well-lit path you know well.
- Decide beforehand how far your carolers will walk and how long you want to stay out.
- Kids can carry flashlights; adults can carry candle lanterns.
- Take a wagon. It can hold everything you take along as well as small children who might get tired.
- Give yourselves a fun name like "Santa's Singing Superstars," and make a sign to put on the wagon.
- If collecting money for a charity, make a sign and a donation jar with the organization's name.
- Before visiting a nursing home or hospital, call ahead and get an okay from the administration.
- Bring along cookies and a big thermos of hot cocoa. Don't forget the cups and marshmallows!
Holiday Favorites
Be prepared for song requests like these classic carols and modern favorites. (Click on the hyperlinked carols to print out a song sheet.)
The 12 Days of Christmas
Angels We Have Heard on High
Away in a Manger
Deck the Halls
Do You Hear What I Hear
Feliz Navidad
Frosty the Snowman
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Here Comes Santa Claus
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bell Rock
Joy to the World
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
The Little Drummer Boy
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Silent Night
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
