I know you are excited to share your favorite holiday movies with your children.
I know you want to do it now.
But I am telling you, as a parent who has screwed it up, wait.
Think about what would be the absolute perfect age for your child to see it, when they would get the most magic out of it and wait until then.
It is so very worth it. I promise.
Here is my personal list.
Preschool Kindergarten Grade 1 – Cartoons for Ages 3-6
Absolutely NO live action movies for children under 7 (read why here)
- Little Bear – Winter Solstice Little Bear is easily my absolute favorite show for early childhood more faves here
- Frosty the Snowman (1969)
- Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer (1964)
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1964)
- Santa’s Apprentice (2010)
- The Snowy Day (2016)
- Annabelle’s Wish (1997)
- The Snowman (1982)
- Robin Robin (2021)
Intermediate – Age 7-9
Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Klaus (2019)
The Rise of the Guardians (2012)
The Polar Express (2004)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone 2 (1992) (we actually watched them all. My 9/10 year old loved them)
Tweens 10-12
Miracle on 34th St (1994)
Prancer (1989)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Elf (2003)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Mr. Bean Christmas
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)
Teens 13-17
Remember the Night (1940)
Batman Returns (1992)
A Christmas Carol (2009)
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1989)
Mixed Nuts (1994)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Tokyo Godfathers (2003) such a gem!
Cozy Classics for the grown ups
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
White Christmas (1954)
A Christmas Story (1983)
Action Adventure unconventional choices
Die Hard (1988)
Lethal Weapon (1987)