My little ones are only three and one, so we have not had the joy of many Christmases together; but one of my favorite traditions is changing into matching pjs, sipping on hot chocolate (or just milk for the littlest one) and ‘watching’ a holiday movie together. I use the word watching loosely as toddlers aren’t known for sitting still for an entire movie – if yours does, please send me all your tips!
If you are looking for movies to enjoy with your little one(s), here is a list of our favorite movies that will help spread the magic and cheer of the season.
Classic Christmas Movies
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Who doesn’t love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? This classic Christmas story is the perfect movie to watch while you snuggle up with your family as the festive season nears.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Another favorite that has stood the test of time! This is one that many families have enjoyed watching throughout the years. As a bonus, at only 25 minutes long, many toddlers will probably be able to sit through it!
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Another oldie, but a goodie – Frosty has been part of families celebrations for decades. This 25 minutes short movie tells the story of a live snowman who tries to get to the North Pole with the help of his new friends.
The Snowman (1982)
Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Raymond Redvers Briggs, The Snowman tells us the story of an unlikely friendship between a boy and a snowman and how they share their world with one another. The beauty of this heartfelt tale is that words are not needed, just illustrations.
Dr Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) and The Grinch (2018)
A Christmas movie list without mentioning the two Grinch movies would be incomplete. It is a favorite in many families, but we do encourage parental discretion, as The Grinch might be a bit scary for some little ones.
Childhood Favorite Characters
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983), Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999) and Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
These three series offer different stories of Mickey and his friends through the holidays. These are fun for all the family and offer lessons on experiencing the real meaning of the festive seasons.
Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
Another favorite childhood character, Winnie the Pooh and his friends share sweet moments together as they celebrate Christmas and the New Year. This warm movie about friendship will definitely be a hit with the little ones.
Olaf’s Frozen Adventures (2017)
From the Frozen saga, this 21-minute Christmas movie follows Olaf and Sven as they meet with different townspeople to learn about their holiday traditions. This is a great option for the Frozen-loving kids out there and for the little ones who may not be able to sit through an entire movie.
The Nativity Story
The Very First Noël (2006)
The Very First Noël is a lovely and simple animation that tells the story of the birth of Jesus. It is guaranteed to be a hit with the little ones as it is only 23 minutes and it includes some of the most popular Christmas song.
The Star (2017)
This is our favorite family Christmas movie! The Star tells the story of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the animals that were present in the barn during the very First Christmas. We skip a couple of scenes with some scary looking dogs who are trying to get to Mary, but other than that the movie is very uplifting and the music is great!
