Has your child gone from being extroverted to suddenly becoming the shy kid at the playground? Perhaps they were vocal and socially outgoing at childcare, but now that they have entered school, they seem more reserved and less confident to make new friends. Read on to learn why children might develop shyness or become introverted and when it could be more than shyness at play.

What Causes Shyness?

Shyness is when someone feels apprehensive, uncomfortable, or awkward around others. It’s most common in new situations or when they are around unfamiliar people.¹ Socially awkward signs of shyness could be avoiding people or retreating from situations that trigger their discomfort because they worry about negative responses like being criticized, rejected, or humiliated.¹ People often confuse shyness and introversion because the behavior looks the same. When we consider if a kid is an introvert vs. shy, the difference is that introverts choose to avoid social situations (they find them overwhelming or don’t find value in them). Those who are shy are fearful or worried about those same situations.²

The cause of shyness varies, and people can be born with it or develop it as they grow. Although it’s not cut and dry as to the exact origins of shyness, research does show some indicators of where it comes from, including:

Genetics Can Lead to a Shy Kid

Some genes passed down through families might influence why some kids are shy.^3,4 Genes influence our personality, and temperament is part of our personality. Temperament tends to be fixed and doesn’t change, while personality can evolve over our lifespan.⁵ There are a few critical elements to temperament: flexible, fearful, or feisty. We all exist along a continuum of these three things. It’s thought that around 20% to 60% of your temperament is influenced by your genes.⁶

Environment Can Create Shyness

How a person is raised could also have an impact, including when child abuse (particularly emotional) occurs. Another potential factor is a kid raised by shy or socially anxious parents who pass along ways of managing or coping with specific situations to their child.^3,4

Shyness Can Be From Life Experiences

Shyness can arise after an episode or instance of anxiety (or having symptoms of panic). So, if your child has had a negative experience or been in a situation where they experience panic, they might develop shyness as an aftereffect. Shyness could be a silent sign that your child is stressed or worried, and it could explain why your previously confident kid is now a shy kid.^3,4 This may also explain why shyness develops during significant life changes or stressful periods, like starting school or navigating new environments.¹

Is Being a Shy Kid a Bad Thing?

Is being shy bad? Well, yes, and no. There are challenges associated with being shy and benefits, but it comes down to perception and context. In some cultures, confidence and being outspoken are seen as valuable, so shyness is seen as negative. However, in other cultures, shyness can be seen as being thoughtful, being a good listener, considering things before you speak or react, and leaving space or opportunities for others to have a turn.⁷

Shyness itself isn’t an issue, but the behaviors that come with shyness (like avoidance or non-participation) could cause some problems. A shy kid might miss out on fun activities because they avoid going to new places, or they could miss out on important social activities, like attending school regularly, participating in the classroom, or playing with peers. Some research indicates that lack of classroom participation or difficulty asking teachers for support when struggling could negatively impact educational achievement.⁸ Children may also feel lonely or experience low self-esteem because they find it hard to make friends, join in, or practice new skills in front of other people if they fear being criticized or rejected.⁹

But shyness is associated with many positive attributes, too. Shy people tend to “look before they leap,” as they can be worried about new situations. This can mean they are more cautious, consider things, or even avoid risky situations, which helps keep them safe.¹⁰ Shy people might have stronger relationships, as they can appear more empathetic because they are good listeners. This can also mean they are better equipped for certain types of jobs that involve working with people in a compassionate way.¹¹

How To Help a Shy Kid

It can be hard for a shy child to cope with new situations and people. There are a few strategies to bring them out of their shell, which can help them learn how not to be shy. Here’s how you can help a shy child socialize:

Be Careful of Labels

Avoid calling them shy, and try reframing things when others call them shy. It can create a situation where they label themselves and then live up to it. Shyness can be seen as negative, and we don’t want our children to associate what is part of their temperament as “bad” or “flawed.” Instead, you could say, “Logan takes a little while to warm up. Once he feels comfortable, he might like to play.”

Be Patient With a Shy Kid

Give your child time to get comfortable. If you know they feel shy in certain situations, understand it might take them longer to play or venture away from your side. Try to manage your feelings about this, as adding pressure will only likely exacerbate things.

Acknowledge Their Feelings

Try to normalize and support your shy kid’s feelings. It’s a fine line, as we don’t want to reiterate or go along with specific fears (like school attendance), but we still want them to feel heard. The trick is to validate the feeling but not the behavior. For example, instead of saying, “I know school can be scary” (which validates that school is frightening), you could say, “I can see you feel worried about school.” It’s very nuanced, but this can help support them and ensure you aren’t accidentally perpetuating the worry.

Practice Makes Perfect

Give your shy kid lots of opportunities to socialize and be exposed to new situations. Also, give them tons of support, be patient, stay visible, and let them stay close. But don’t stop exposing them to situations like this. Otherwise, they won’t learn the strategies to cope.

Try Coaching

Provide them with skills or strategies to help them manage situations. They might practice some things they could ask friends (if they are worried about talking to people in a social situation) or do a practice run (if they are going somewhere new, like a daycare). You can also give them coping skills, like having a small comfort item in their pocket to help them feel calm and learning calm breathing or mindfulness strategies.

Is It Shyness, or Is It Something Else?

While being a shy kid is normal, certain behaviors we associate with shyness (like avoiding or feeling uncomfortable in social situations or new places or not talking) can be indicators of other things. Here are some things to watch out for if you are concerned that shyness might be masking something else:

Autism vs. Having a Shy Kid

Both an autistic and shy kid might find the same situations uncomfortable. However, a child with autism might have difficulty reading social cues, play differently, or not be interested in social interaction. This differs from a shy kid who often wants these things or is capable but avoids them due to discomfort. Shyness is about a child’s temperament, but autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder.¹²

Social Anxiety

There is a lot of crossover between shyness and social anxiety. For example, being worried about interacting with new people or certain new situations. However, the symptoms of shyness are much less frequent and severe. Social anxiety disorder is associated with strong, irrational fears about interacting with new people. Or being preoccupied with worries of being scrutinized or criticized. People with social anxiety also exhibit a lot of physical symptoms like blushing, shortness of breath, trembling, racing heart, and sweating. They can even experience panic attacks if their anxiety is severe enough.¹³

Hearing Loss and Language Delays

If your shy kid doesn’t like (or has difficulty) speaking with others or doesn’t seem to interact when playing or socializing, it’s essential to rule out hearing issues or language delays. These might present in similar ways to shyness.¹⁴

Nothing is wrong with your child being shy; it’s a part of what makes them unique! Seek help if their behavior has changed recently or their shyness impacts their quality of life or causes them distress. An expert can help you explore whether anything else affects your child’s shyness. They can also provide options for seeking help and support to manage their discomfort.

I am a mom of four, and I love my kids more than I ever knew possible. I love them so much that sometimes I feel a bit of a hole in my heart because I regret not having more kids. That probably sounds totally ridiculous to a lot of people, and maybe it is, but there are days that I look around the room and feel like someone is missing.

When I was a little girl, I spent hours playing with my dolls. I still have Sherry Amelda, my first Cabbage Patch Kid; I took her with me everywhere I went. I changed her clothes, fed her, and put her to sleep. And I twisted her red yarn hair into braids and softly cleaned spots from her face and body. Sherry Amelda was my first foray into motherhood. I knew even as a young girl that I wanted a house filled with children.

Serious Regrets About Not Having Another Kid. Or Two.

I had my first baby in my late 20s, and my husband was in his mid-30s. We had three boys in five years, and life was great. Then, two days before I turned 37, a little girl entered our life. My oldest son was 8, and I felt blessed to have a baby in our home. Now, she is ready to turn 8, and her biggest brother is learning to drive. I look at my life and wonder how it went by so quickly. It makes me regret not having more kids, at least another baby or two.

Yes, life is chaotic as a big family with four kids, and we are all crammed into a house with lots of stuff and a big dog, but we are happy that way. I grew up with three brothers, and our home was always loud and filled with people. It brought me comfort. I feel the same way in my own home. Something is always happening, and people are talking, sometimes yelling, but those noises bring me joy. I think about what life will be like when it is just my husband and me, and it seems so lonely.

If we had another child or two, that joyful noise would last much longer. No, I don’t want to have enough kids that we could star in a reality show, but I regret not having another kid. Even two more would’ve been okay. My husband has said that if we had married a few years sooner, he thought six kids was a great number and would’ve loved to have had more. Thinking about that makes my heart ache a bit. I think about those what-ifs and how different our lives would be. But I can’t help but think that it would have been fantastic.

Unfortunately, We Won’t Have More Kids

I am getting ready to turn 45, and my husband will be 51. We could certainly have another baby, but we won’t. I genuinely get jealous when I see pregnant women. I loved feeling my babies growing inside of me. Even with the endless diapers, cries, and sleepless nights, it was worth all the emotions. And it’s hard for me to think about the fact that I have about ten years until my baby will be an adult.

Lots of Kids Is Exhausting, But Fulfilling

Having a house full of kids means big messes, endless laundry, dishes, and hours in the car going from one place to another. It is exhausting. But for me, it is also fulfilling. I love to look at pictures of my kids smiling and enjoying the most mundane things in life. The more children you have, the less expendable income there is. We don’t go on fancy vacations or cruises. But we go on a glorified camping trip with our families every July. My kids will tell you it’s their favorite week of the year filled with a whole lot of nothing. Those days will probably be some of their most vivid childhood memories. I hope so.

I must remember that as my children grow older, so do I. In my 40s, I have pains in body parts I didn’t know I had. My hair is sparkling with grays, and my face has some laugh lines. At my age, I probably wouldn’t be great with a baby, but I could still keep up with a kindergartner if I had one. I know you aren’t supposed to have regrets, but if I had to name one, I regret not having more kids.

I believe everything happens for a reason. So the three boys and one girl setup I have, a mirror of my family growing up, is probably what I was meant to have. But it doesn’t mean I don’t wonder, wish, and yearn for another child to love. If I am lucky, someday I hope to have a home filled with grandchildren, and I can watch my kids learn about the joys of parenthood. Until then, I’ll take every hug and kiss I get. My babies fill my soul, and I am grateful.

The first time you and your newborn lock eyes can be a joyous and overwhelming experience. That moment when they look at you with recognition in their eyes as they hear your voice for the first time in the outside world. But what can they see? Turns out not too much. Not for several weeks, anyway. Let’s explore your baby’s vision development and milestones to understand better how their vision works!

When Can Newborns See?

Your baby’s vision development will undergo many dramatic changes during the first year of life. But let us begin with those “fresh out of the womb” eyes. What can your brand-new newborn see?

Because your newborn’s retinas are still developing after birth, your newborn’s eyes are very sensitive to light and can see things more clearly when up close (nearsighted).² Their peripheral vision is more developed than their central vision, so your baby may turn their head to one side to see you better.¹ Don’t worry if you see them glaring at you from the corner of their eye!

When Do Babies Make Eye Contact?

Big things happen to your baby’s eyesight after the first month. Around six weeks of life, your baby will start making direct eye contact with you. Your little one will begin to respond to smiling, non-friendly, or silly faces visually. Eye contact is an essential baby milestone.³

Early intervention may be recommended if your little one is not making direct eye contact with you by eight weeks. These services will guide you in strengthening visual communication and stimulating your baby’s eyesight.³ However, some pediatricians may recommend a wait-and-see approach.

During this early period of vision development, you may also notice that your baby’s eyes occasionally cross or look misaligned as they try to focus on something or someone. This intermittent misalignment (or strabismus) is normal and should resolve by around four months. If one of your baby’s eyes constantly turns inward or outward from the nose, talk with your pediatrician.⁴

Eye Contact Beyond Three Months

Your newborn will be fascinated by looking at your face by 3 months old. They will be interested in different facial expressions and fix their gaze on you!³ Entice and encourage this visual exploration with them by making funny facial expressions, making different noises, and changing the pitch of your voice. By this time, your baby can also track or follow an object as it moves around their line of sight. Tracking is another vital baby milestone.⁴ By eight to 10 months, your little one will be able to recognize you and anyone close to them visually before a voice is heard.³

How Far Can Babies See?

Newborns are nearsighted. During the few weeks of life, your baby will best see objects or faces up to 12 inches from their face. The world beyond that is a blur of light and dark, shapes and patterns. Objects up to 3 feet away may be of interest by one month.² Soon, your baby will “discover” their hands and reach for objects of interest within their line of sight.

As the retina matures, distance vision rapidly improves. By four months, your baby may find you across the room, stare out a window, or be mesmerized by wall decorations. As babies begin to crawl, their eye-hand-foot-body coordination and depth perception will improve dramatically.¹

When Do Babies See Color?

A baby’s world is primarily black and white for the first two months. However, studies have shown that even newborns can detect highly saturated colors like red shortly after birth. As the retina develops, more colors and hues are seen. By three months, your baby’s retinas are developed enough to detect the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue.⁵ Their world is much more colorful!

By five months, your baby’s color vision is comparable to an adult’s as their eyes work to see a full spectrum of colors.¹ However, complete color discrimination is not fully developed until adolescence.⁵

Eye and Vision Warning Signs

Your baby’s vision development is essential. Occasionally, vision or eye symptoms that require investigation may arise. Consult your pediatrician if you notice any of the following:⁶

• Constant tearing or mucus dripping from the eyes
• Clouding of the lens of the eye
• Constantly misaligned eyes
• Extreme sensitivity to light
• Reddening of the white part of the eye
• Reddened bumps on the eyelids
• Swollen eyelids or crusting of eyelashes

Understanding your baby’s vision development and milestones will guide you in providing a visually stimulating environment. Do not hesitate to speak with your pediatrician or ophthalmologist with any concerns!

I’m going to be honest here. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been at the playground with my kids and observed interactions between other children and thought, “Wow. That kid is going to be an a**hole someday.” Of course, I would never say that out loud to anyone (well, maybe my sister because I know she won’t judge me). But I certainly think it — much more than I care to admit. (Seriously, please tell me I’m not the only one!)

After doing this, I wondered if other people might think that about my kids. God, I hope not! But I can’t deny my kids aren’t perfect. When it comes to raising kids, the early years are critical because they set the “tone” for a child’s behavior, values, and attitudes later in life. And studies show that disrespectful children grow up to become rude adults.¹ It’s essential that we don’t create excuses and instead tackle rudeness and disrespect head-on. Our children need skills for navigating social situations and conflict, as well as positive communication strategies to help them develop healthy and adaptive relationships . . . and not turn into a$$holes!

How To Raise a Child Who Is Not an A$$hole

There are many key strategies to raise a child to become a well-adjusted, polite, and compassionate person. While I have included specific strategies, it’s also important to understand general things that can help them develop into good human beings. This includes clear boundaries; if you say no or set a boundary, keep it.² Letting them get away with pushing boundaries is a surefire way to let our kids push limits and not take “no” for an answer. Make sure that if you set limits or consequences, you follow through.

Another critical thing to remember is modeling — monkey see, monkey do. Your children will see the way you handle situations and how you treat people.^3,4 So, ensure you demonstrate the kinds of behaviors you expect of them. Some other practical tips to ensure you are not raising your child to be an a$$hole include:

1. Practice “Please” and “Thank You”

We all should have learned this fundamental concept from a young age. Unfortunately, I hear fewer of these simple words from kids’ mouths. Teaching our kids to say “please” and “thank you” is an effortless way to encourage polite, respectful behavior.⁵ And don’t forget, kids learn the most by observing YOU.¹² Start practicing saying “please” and “thank you,” even to people you see every day and take for granted (hello, husbands!). This can lead your kids to mimic that behavior.¹³

2. Instill Good Manners From the Start

Again, good manners seem to have gone the way of the dodo. But you’re raising a child, it’s essential to instill good manners in them at a young age. The simple act of teaching your child to say “excuse me” or “yes, ma’am” or “yes, sir” goes a long way. Your child will learn how to show respect and consideration for someone other than themselves.⁶

3. Don’t Give Them Everything They Want

Listen, I struggle with this one. One of my love languages is giving gifts. I buy my kids all kinds of things because I love them and always think about making them happy. Despite my loving intentions, giving my kids everything they want will do nothing but turn them into selfish, entitled jerks. That’s the last thing I want for them. Instead, I need to show restraint and show them they can’t have everything. This will help them learn the lessons of delayed gratification, gratefulness, hard work, and gratitude.⁷

4. Start Chores Young

Giving your child chores from an early age teaches them about responsibility, natural consequences (when they don’t do them), and the satisfaction of rewards for hard work. These are all critical lessons to learn from doing chores early on.⁸ If you don’t raise a child to do chores and they are suddenly thrust into the real world (where people must be responsible and earn a living), they will be very unprepared.

5. Keep Rewards Reasonable

Don’t start giving your child $20 each time they complete the two items on their chore list. Don’t buy them a new iPad after cleaning their room for the first time in six weeks. Be reasonable about the rewards you give them; an award can be a simple “Well done, son!” and not money or things! If children get used to rewards for prosocial behavior (or behaviors you want them to repeat), they aren’t learning the real reason behind why these behaviors are necessary. Instead, they learn that they will get a reward for doing it.⁹

6. Start Community Service Young

Serving and volunteering in the community from a young age is a great way to teach your kids the art of giving back and helping others. For example, at Christmas, you can take your kids to the local soup kitchen or involve them in stuffing stockings for less fortunate children. You can include your children in many acts of kindness for helping or giving back to their community. For our children to develop empathy, which means they consider and understand the needs of others, they need to expand their circle of concern. When you’re raising your child, it’s crucial for them to learn about other ways of life and to consider and understand how other people feel.¹⁰

7. Point Out the Needs of Others

Another way of expanding their circle of concern is helping them understand other needs in social settings or their community. We drove to our local nature center the other weekend and stopped at a light near an overpass. We saw a homeless man on the corner with a sign asking for food or money. I never carry cash, and I would instead give food or something tangible they could use, and the only thing I had was an unopened bottle of water. So, I rolled down the window, gave the man my water, said, “God bless you,” and the light turned green.

As we were driving away, my daughter asked great questions about the encounter, and I taught her that many people in this world don’t have homes, enough food, or even clean water to drink. It was an eye-opening moment for her, and I know it will help her see the need around her.

8. Teach Them About Life in Other Countries

Along the same lines as the story above, teaching our children about the lives and struggles of people in other countries — especially children, because that’s who they can relate to the most — can help strengthen your kid’s ability to sympathize and think outside of their little bubble.¹⁰ Not everything is sunshine and roses for many people. I believe it is essential for children to learn how blessed they are and think about sharing those blessings with less fortunate kids.

9. Write Thank-You Notes

I may be the only mom still writing old-fashioned thank-you notes, but I don’t care. They are important! Taking the time to sit down and write a thank-you note for a gift or a kind deed that you received teaches valuable lessons on thankfulness and being grateful for gifts they’ve received, not to mention it has a far more significant impact on the recipient of the note.⁶ My kids are still too young to write on their own. So, we will sit down together, and I will have my kiddo dictate their thank-you to me, and I will write it for them. Then, I’ll have them “sign” the card and “decorate” it. They love doing this because it makes them feel good to know they’ve made someone smile by sending a thoughtful note!

I’m sure there are many more ways to raise a child using critical character-building lessons to keep them from becoming a**holes later in life. But these are the ones I’m starting with! Hopefully, if I do my job right, my kids will be decent human beings. And I won’t have to worry about other parents judging them on the playground (or anywhere else) someday.

We’ve all been there (well, parents of toddlers have anyway), standing in line at the grocery store, minding your own business when your little one spots something they like: a candy bar, a toy, etc. Inevitably, when you say no, there’s a good chance a tantrum is coming. Cue screaming, writhing, kicking, stamping . . . you name it! And you want the floor to open and swallow you up. Although tantrums are a normal part of childhood, it doesn’t mean they aren’t challenging, so let’s explore why they happen and some strategies you can use to tame them!

Why Do Toddlers Have Tantrums?

The first concept all parents need to recognize is that when toddlers have tantrums, they are not acting out on purpose. Usually, their behavior is in response to a lack of coping skills and a general lack of experience in handling certain situations. In addition, they aren’t very good at identifying or managing their emotions just yet.^1,2

An important part of a child’s brain that’s in charge of self-regulation is not developed yet. Your toddler relies on the less mature, more primal parts of their brain: the emotion centers. During the toddler years, the emotional and impulsive part of the brain is in control. It is the most readily available part of the brain to deal with whatever happens in the child’s world. Your toddler’s brain still has a lot of development to do, and during those difficult situations, that new brain is doing its best with what it has.^3,4

Here are other factors that make tantrums more likely to occur:^1,2

• Temperament: Some children are more sensitive than others or react more strongly to changes in their routine or environment.
• Big feelings: We will explore more about toddlers’ brains in a moment, but there are certain big emotions they find particularly hard to cope with — shame, anger, and fear.
• Overstimulation: Their brains do a lot of learning and processing since everything is new, and they are like little sponges. So, they can become easily overwhelmed when they are overstimulated.
• Feeling hangry: When they are tired or hungry, they may also find it harder to cope, be resilient, or keep big feelings contained.

Understanding Toddler Brain Development

Let’s take a closer look at the development of your toddler’s brain. In babies, the first part of the brain to develop is the brainstem, which comprises the hindbrain and part of the midbrain.⁷ This is at the base of the skull, and it controls involuntary responses such as reflexes, breathing, and heart rate.^3,4,5,6

The midbrain is the second part of the brain to develop during the first and second years. It comprises the limbic system, including the hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus.⁸ These areas of the brain are responsible for controlling thirst, hunger, sleep, and moods, as well as perceiving and reacting to emotions, stress reactions, and creating new memories.^3,4,5,6

The last part of the brain to develop is the forebrain, which is responsible for higher-level thinking, problem-solving, planning, decision-making, logic, and reasoning.⁹ The forebrain continues to develop through childhood and adolescence.^3,4,5,6 Recent studies find that the higher-thinking logic centers of the brain are not fully developed until closer to age 25!¹⁰ So, during a toddler tantrum, we have several factors at play here:

Toddlers Have an Undeveloped Emotional Center

Our toddlers are working with the emotional center as the dominant part of their brain. Don’t forget that the emotional center is still not fully developed. The amygdala works very hard to perceive and analyze different emotions from other people, and the immature amygdala sometimes gets it wrong.¹¹ It is then working hard to transfer that information into expressed emotion, and it can easily overreact or underreact.^5,6

Toddlers Don’t Have Much Life Experience

Another factor we need to consider is life experience. Babies and young children learn through experience and repetition. Really, how much life experience and opportunity for repetition does a 2-year-old have? It may seem like you’ve told them to stop climbing on furniture a hundred times. But they are still learning that message and processing your level of emotion regarding it.^1,2

Toddlers Have a Desire for Independence

For the past two years, your toddler has been eyeing the furniture, playground equipment, and staircase without the independence or physical skills to climb and explore. They have been (mostly) accepting whatever you decide to put in their mouth. But now, they will assert their own opinions. After two years of sitting in the shopping cart watching all the interesting, colorful items from a distance, your toddler can now touch the objects, hold them, ask for them, and react when they do not get them.

This desire for independence has been welling up, and now, in the form of a tantrum, it is spilling over without them having all the skills to manage it. Children typically have an explosion in their physical skills during the toddler years, while speech, language, and cognitive (thinking) skills struggle to catch up. This is when your child is running, and they don’t even know why. Or climbing, and they don’t even know where to. And begging for items, even if they don’t know what they are. A lot is going on in that little growing brain!^1,2,4

How To Handle Toddler Tantrums

How does a toddler parent take all this information and manage their little ones? We need to start by remembering that they are not little adults. They do not have the skills we do to handle the situations they are in. They need us to control their environment, steer them in the right direction, keep them safe, distract them when necessary, and, most importantly, have never-ending patience. Easier said than done. Here are some tips to help you navigate your toddler’s tantrums:

1. Provide a safe and predictable environment with routines, structure, and boundaries so they know what to expect and have stability.¹²

2. Be affectionate and nurturing. They are figuring things out, and your support goes a long way.

3. Identify triggers and remove them when possible. Yes, your child needs to figure out how to manage big feelings when they come up, but timing is everything. If they are hungry or tired, a trip to the store (with bright lights and lots of noise and colors) is unlikely to help matters.

4. Help them solve problems on their own. Resist the urge to fix everything for them. As you support them in problem-solving, they learn independence, self-esteem, and essential life skills.¹³

5. Show them how to resolve conflict healthily and practice taking turns and sharing through games and activities. Praise them when they do these things on their own. Recognize how difficult it can be for them.

6. Help your toddler understand their feelings by naming them when you see them, exploring them, and discussing them. Also, identify strategies for managing each unique emotion. Sadness might be supported by having a hug or finding their favorite toy. Anger might be managed by taking deep breaths or jumping on the spot. This can help shift some of the energy coursing around their body.

7. Encourage empathy by helping them see others’ points of view.

8. Encourage playdates and playgroups to practice social interactions.

The best way to keep your toddler calm is by staying calm yourself. Remember, as soon as you start to debate with a toddler, you have already lost. Stay calm, focused, and patient. Their reactions are based on emotions, and they usually don’t have the skills to think and act logically. Now that you know what is going on in that little brain when they’re having a tantrum, it may be easier to be more understanding and help your toddler navigate these challenging years.

Your type of parenting style influences your child’s long-term health, well-being, self-esteem, and relationships with others.¹ It’s essential to understand how your parenting choices, values, and attitudes — particularly how you interact with your children and provide love, boundaries, and discipline — influence their growth and development.² There are many ways to raise our children, and each style has its own characteristics, pros, and cons. However, researchers have identified four general parenting styles, sometimes referred to as Baumrind’s parenting styles.

Baumrind’s Types of Parenting Styles

In her research, psychologist Diana Baumrind identified two elements of a parenting style: authority and affection.³ Authority is how much demand a parent has or how much they try to control their child and their behavior by setting rules, expectations, and standards. Affection is how responsive a parent is toward their child, how love is expressed, and how accepting they are of their child’s perspectives and opinions. Baumrind’s original research identified three main types of parenting styles, and later, research by Eleanor Maccoby and John Martin expanded and added one more. The four types of parenting styles are authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful.⁴

Authoritative Parenting

This type of parenting style is demanding and responsive. The authoritative parent has high expectations of their child (demanding) but is also understanding and responsive to their child’s feelings and needs.⁴ Some key actions and attitudes that authoritative parents display include:^5,6,7

• These parents support their children in regulating and managing their emotions.
• Despite having high expectations, authoritative parents are realistic (age and developmentally appropriate) and usually forgiving of mistakes. Or they help their children learn how to problem solve or resolve things, rather than giving strict punishments or consequences.
• Their attitude is warm, nurturing, and loving toward their child.
• They set clear expectations, monitor their child, and ensure limits are followed.
• This parenting style focuses on natural consequences, which helps children match actions with consequences.
• Children of authoritative parents tend to have higher well-being, improved self-esteem, more self-determination, and higher-quality relationships.

Authoritarian Parenting

People are often confused about the difference between the authoritative vs. authoritarian types of parenting styles. This is partly because of the similarity of the names; however, they are pretty different. Both have a high level of demand, but the difference is how much affection or nurturing the parent provides. Authoritarian parents are demanding and unresponsive.⁴ Some key ways they parent include:^8,9,10

• Being quite restrictive and controlling
• They focus heavily on punishment and consequences; this can include corporal punishment like spanking and yelling.
• Limits, boundaries, rules, and expectations are generally delivered without explanations, support, or feedback.
• They are less likely to take the child’s opinions, views, etc., into consideration when making decisions.
• Children of authoritarian parents may not be as socially competent or independent (compared to those whose parents follow other styles) because they are told what to do rather than supported to understand why or learn how to problem solve or make choices for themselves. They also tend to have lower self-esteem, poor mood, and well-being.

Permissive Parenting

What is permissive parenting all about? Other names for it include indulgent, lenient, and or non-directive parenting. This style is undemanding and responsive.⁴ Key behaviors or attitudes displayed by permissive parents include:^11,12

• Having a high level of affection but few, if any, expectations, rules, demands, or control. (These parents can be described as “lax.”)
• Permissive parents are very aware of their child’s needs.
• They tend to be accepting of their child’s choices.
• They often prefer being their child’s friend or confidante over playing a parental role. Because of the lack of limits or boundaries, children of permissive parents may not have the skills to regulate their emotions or behave (due to lack of experience with limits or rules).
• Research indicates that children of permissive parents tend to have trouble with impulse control and are more immature and irresponsible. As teens, they are more likely to engage in drug and alcohol use.

Neglectful Parenting

Neglectful parents can also be called “uninvolved” or “indifferent.” They are unaware of their child and what they are doing or what they need. This type of parenting style is undemanding and unresponsive.⁴ It is typified by the following behaviors or actions when parenting:^12,13

• They are unable to or cannot provide nurturing, affection, or warmth.
• In many circumstances, a parent engaged in a neglectful style has or is currently experiencing stress or significantly challenging circumstances themselves. It does not change the impact of this parenting style on a child, nor does it change how acceptable it is, but it’s essential to understand the context in which this kind of parenting style could potentially arise.
• Research indicates that children whose parents have a neglectful style are typically more lonely and immature, have lower self-esteem, have trouble in social situations, end up in abusive adult relationships, and engage in risk-taking behaviors as well as drug and alcohol use.

Other Parenting Styles

Beyond these four critical types of parenting styles, there are many other subgroups or styles of parenting. They generally fall under or align with one of the four categories (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, neglectful) because they share similarities. An overview of other parenting styles you might have heard of has been summarised under two main groupings: intentional and harmful.

Intentional

An intentional parenting style is all about being deliberate; you have a unique take on parenting or have particular values that drive your parenting. It’s important to note that while a parenting style may be purposeful and the underlying intent is good, it does not mean the outcomes are equal (or positive) in terms of long-term effects on a child’s well-being.

Attachment Parenting

Attachment parenting is based on the psychological attachment theory, which refers to the emotional bond between people. There are four types of attachment: secure, insecure, resistant, and disorganized. When people refer to attachment-style parenting, they typically identify with secure attachment. This is described as a child being close enough to their primary caregiver to feel safe and secure but also being provided opportunities to explore the world and return when they feel unsafe, scared, or confused. In secure attachment, the primary caregiver is a secure base.^14,15

Gentle Parenting

This parenting style is described as recognizing children as individuals and accepting and responsive to their needs. It can sometimes be confused with permissive parenting, but they are not interchangeable. Permissive parenting has few limits or boundaries, whereas the gentle parenting style has limitations and expectations that are developed sensibly and respectfully and are consistently kept.¹⁶ Punishments are not an element of gentle parenting. Instead, the focus is on developing the child’s awareness of their behavior, where it comes from, and how to manage their emotions and responses.¹⁶

Slow Parenting

The slow parenting movement is about intentionally stepping back from over-commitment and overstimulation in our children’s lives (including removing and reducing technology and media use). The goal of slow parents is to reduce organized activities for our children, allow them free play, and give them opportunities to explore their interests at their own pace. This style encourages kids to be self-sufficient and confident because they can be authentic in the interests they pursue.¹⁷

Free-Range Parenting

Free-range parenting was coined by a New York Columnist (Lenore Skenazy) who wrote the article “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” in 2008.¹⁸ She introduced the concept to oppose the helicopter parent and highlighted her thoughts about not sheltering children too much and, within reason, encouraging them to be independent, roam around, and be confident in their skills and abilities. Although the intentions are positive — unstructured play, a focus on nature play, increasing independence, self-belief, and problem-solving — this style has criticisms that too little control over children could harm their safety (potentially bordering on more harmful types of parenting).^18,19

Elephant Parenting

The term “elephant parent” originated in the article “Being an ‘Elephant Mom’ in the Time of the Tiger Mother” by Priyanka Sharma.²⁰ She described the elephant parenting style as being similar to how elephant mothers raise their babies, including replicating strong bonds and being nurturing, supportive, flexible, and protective. It also involves parents being actively involved and interested in their child’s life.

Dolphin Parenting

Dolphin parenting is a style that’s similar to the nature of dolphins (playful, intelligent, and highly social). It is seen as being in contrast with the style of tiger moms and jellyfish moms.²¹ According to the psychiatrist who developed this term (Dr. Shimi Kang), a dolphin parent is a balanced style of parenting that focuses on providing clear and appropriate boundaries without being overprotective. Dolphin parents are equally accepting of a child’s desires and needs while giving opportunities for children to be independent, but ultimately avoiding being completely permissive.^21,22

Jellyfish Parenting

Similar to the permissive parent (and coined by the same psychiatrist who identified the dolphin parenting style), jellyfish parents are relaxed when it comes to rules, possibly a little too relaxed. They give plenty of opportunities for children to lead, but most things are driven by what their child needs, and parents typically have limited control or drive when it comes to decision-making. Jellyfish parents also typically have few (if any) rules or boundaries.^21,22

Tiger Parenting

The tiger parent (or “tiger mom”) is a strict parent who focuses on ensuring their child is high achieving. In particular, in education or high-status extracurricular activities. They prefer achievement over their child’s participation in unstructured play or other social events. The tiger parent has incredibly high expectations of their child; they are very controlling and provide limited opportunities for independence.^23,24 They are more likely to engage in punishment and do not accept or take the child’s emotions, needs, or preferences into account when making decisions. In the extreme, failure to succeed or meet the incredibly high expectations of a tiger parent may result in punishment or an increased risk of abuse.^23,24

Mindful Parenting

The mindful parenting style focuses on teaching parents to become aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The intention behind this is to help them focus on their child in an intentional, non-judgemental way. This style encourages learning the art of mindfulness to become more present in the moment to enhance parent-child relationships and a parent’s resilience and ability to cope, which, in turn, supports a child’s well-being.²⁵

Helicopter Parenting

What is a helicopter parent? The aim of helicopter parents is (mostly) positive but could easily slip into a more harmful parenting style. Helicopter parenting is also called “overparenting.” It involves parents trying to insert or involve themselves in all areas of their child’s life. This includes solving all their problems, and while the intention is to be helpful or protect their children from harm, it can stifle a child’s independence, problem-solving skills, and confidence. The term” helicopter” was chosen because parents “hover,” although it’s often by accident, they can deprive their child of learning opportunities.²⁶

Harmful

Please note that if you identify with any of these styles, you can seek help and support. But it’s also important to speak out or seek support if you see them replicated in parenting relationships you have witnessed. If you suspect child abuse is occurring, it’s never too late to act. Always seek additional support and guidance or report concerns about abuse to children.

Toxic Parenting

The toxic parenting style is harmful and abusive. It involves abuse, neglect, and a child’s basic needs going unmet. Or the failure of a parent to intervene when there are concerns relating to the harm or safety of their child. It also involves a childhood being entirely disrupted and reducing the child’s self-esteem and well-being. This can lead to lifelong psychological trauma.²⁷

Narcissistic Parenting

A narcissistic parent typically stems from parents impacted by narcissistic personality disorder (or even just narcissistic traits). Narcissistic parents can be possessive over their children and threatened when they try to be independent. This can involve limited respect for boundaries. The parents’ needs trump the child’s needs with threats, intimidation, gaslighting, and, ultimately, abuse and neglect.²⁸

Which Parenting Style is Most Encouraged in Modern America?

Which style of parenting is referred to as positive parenting? Or the best style to follow? Well, several. Although there are many styles of parenting, one type is highly researched and considered to be the best or most beneficial style: authoritative parenting, or one of its derivatives, like gentle, dolphin, elephant, etc.⁹ Research indicates that authoritative parents have rules and consequences that are child-specific and age/developmentally appropriate. But, ultimately, take the child’s opinions and needs into account. These elements result in children becoming responsible adults who can comfortably express themselves, meet their needs, generally have positive self-esteem, and are happy and successful.⁷

Understanding the basic types of parenting styles helps parents decide about raising their children. Ultimately, we might parent using various techniques, or our styles may vary depending on the context or even the age and needs of our kids. But it’s important to know what parenting elements can lead to issues down the line. It’s also essential to know which can support our children with their long-term happiness and well-being. This understanding can help parents learn where they are at, their strengths, and areas they want to adapt or improve.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! A time to be with your loved ones, adorn your home with beautiful decorations, enjoy delicious winter treats, and do one of our favorite Christmas traditions: have a holiday movie marathon with your family! To help you narrow down your options, we’re sharing our list of the best Christmas movies for kids. In addition to full-length feature films, we’ve included short films and holiday specials below, giving your children plenty of entertainment to choose from.

101 Christmas Movies and Specials for Kids

From timeless classics like “Home Alone” to newer holiday flicks like “A Boy Called Christmas,” here are 101 Christmas movies and specials for kids (and the streaming services you can watch them on).

1. 8-Bit Christmas (2021)

In the present day, a father named Jake tells his daughter a story from his childhood about wanting a Nintendo for Christmas. As kids in the late ’80s, Jake and his friends are obsessed with having the latest games and technology, including the Nintendo, which they struggle to attain. How far will they be willing to go to get their 8-bit gift?! This hilarious Christmas movie will undoubtedly have you and your kids laughing!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Max
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

2. Alien Xmas (2020)

“Alien Xmas” is a stop-motion short film about a race of greedy aliens called Klepts. X is the sneakiest of the Klepts but isn’t taken seriously because of his small size. The Klepts’ leader, Z, announces her plan to plunder Earth and needs someone to go there to build a machine that will pull all its “stuff” into space. X volunteers for the task to prove his worth, landing at the North Pole two days before Christmas Eve! As X explores the town, an elf named Obie mistakes him for a doll and gives X to his daughter, who teaches the alien about warmth and kindness.

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

3. All I Want for Christmas Is You (2017)

This cute Christmas film is based on the popular Mariah Carey song of the same title! Narrated by the singer herself, the movie follows young Mariah in her endeavor to get a puppy for Christmas. Mariah has wanted a dog for years, but her father is allergic, her mother is a clean freak, and both parents think a dog will be a distraction. Mariah is over the moon when she meets the most adorable (and hypoallergenic) dog named Princess! But another dog, Jack, might just be the one for her.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

4. Angela’s Christmas (2017)

This short film is about an innocent young girl named Angela who lives with her mother and siblings in Limerick, Ireland. During mass one night, Angela notices that “baby Jesus” (a prop in the church’s nativity set) looks cold, so she sneaks into the church after the service and takes the doll with her to keep it warm. What happens when her family discovers that she’s taken baby Jesus home?

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

5. Angela’s Christmas Wish (2020)

In this sequel to “Angela’s Christmas,” Angela’s mother is acting a bit strange, and the children think it’s because she misses their dad, who’s away in Australia for work. As a Christmas surprise, Angela and her brother, Pat, try to get their dad back in time for the holidays. At the same time, the children try to help their friend, Mr. McGinty, find a veterinarian for his cow, but the obnoxious vet will only help if Angela can find a way to bring her dad home.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

6. Annabelle’s Wish (1997)

“Annabelle’s Wish” is a heartwarming cartoon about a calf named Annabelle and a mute boy named Billy who lives on a farm with his grandpa. Santa visits the barn on Christmas Eve and uses magic to allow the animals to speak. Annabelle is captivated by Santa’s reindeer and plans to ask him to grant her wish to fly next Christmas. Over the following year, she and Billy become close friends, but Billy faces several conflicts: he can’t talk, his wicked Aunt Agnes wants custody of him, and he’s being bullied. So, Annabelle comes up with an even better wish!

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video

7. Arthur Christmas (2011)

In “Arthur Christmas,” we learn about Santa Claus’ family, who helps make Christmas happen every year with a high-tech gift delivery operation. One Christmas Eve, the unthinkable happens: they accidentally skip a child! Worried that the little girl will think Santa doesn’t care about her, Santa’s clumsy son Arthur must make things right.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

8. Babes in Toyland (1961)

This Christmas movie includes many nursery rhyme characters that kids will recognize! In “Babes in Toyland,” Tom Piper and Mary Contrary are happily engaged, but a villain named Barnaby plots to kidnap Tom and marry Mary, who has a large inheritance. Later, Tom, Mary, and some children from Mother Goose Village venture into Toyland, where they help the Toymaker and his assistant assemble toys for Christmas and must battle Barnaby.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix
• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

9. Barbie in a Christmas Carol (2008)

There are so many retellings of “A Christmas Carol,” and we’re sharing many kid-friendly versions! The Barbie one is probably the least scary on our list. In this film, Barbie tells her little sister Shelly (who says she hates Christmas) a story about Eden, a selfish and arrogant singer who also hates Christmas. After Eden cruelly forces her theater staff to work on Christmas, she’s visited by the ghost of her Aunt Marie, who warns her to change her ways, and later, three spirits who guide her into the past, present, and future.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

10. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)

This movie primarily takes place in the past before the Beast and his castle’s inhabitants turned human again. It also introduces some new characters, including Forte, an evil pipe organ, and his minion Fife. Around Christmastime, Belle and her companions are preparing for the holidays, but the Beast is irritated because he hates Christmas. To make matters worse, Forte sows seeds of doubt in the Beast’s mind and tries to turn him against Belle.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

11. The Boss Baby: Christmas Bonus (2022)

Although Tim loves his family’s Christmas traditions, his younger brother, Ted (aka Boss Baby), isn’t a fan. When they go to the mall to take pictures with Santa, Tim discovers that Boss Baby knows Santa from work — and hates him. As a result, Boss Baby tries to sneak a diaper into Santa’s bag but finds an elf that looks just like him! Boss Baby and his doppelganger, Dongle, get switched, and Boss Baby is taken to the North Pole, where he learns about Christmas spirit; meanwhile, Tim must get everything ready for the holidays and get his brother back!

Rating: TV-Y7

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

12. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)

This movie tells the story of a boy in Finland named Nikolas, who sets out to bring hope and magic back to the world. At the king’s request, Nikolas’ father and a team of men leave to search for the mythical land of Elfhelm and earn a reward. This leaves Nikolas under the care of his cruel, unbelieving Aunt Carlotta. Nikolas discovers a map to Elfhelm, so he and his talking mouse friend, Miika, follow after the father in search of this elusive, magical place.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

13. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

In this classic television special, Charlie Brown struggles with being depressed during the holidays, particularly feeling disappointed in the commercialization of Christmas. Lucy suggests that Charlie Brown direct the Christmas play, but things don’t go as planned. He also chooses a tiny sapling instead of a grand tree for the play, prompting everyone to rebuke him. What will it take for Charlie Brown to find some cheer this holiday season?

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Apple TV

14. Christmas…Again?! (2021)

This kids’ movie is about a girl named Rowena who finds herself reliving Christmas Day again and again! Rowena struggles to accept her parents’ divorce and her father’s new family, and her pessimistic attitude contributes to their Christmas get-together becoming ruined. After telling “Tall Santa” about her troubles and wishing for a do-over, Rowena finds her wish has come true — but the novelty of Christmas eventually fades, and Rowena learns how to make the most of the holiday.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

15. A Christmas Carol (2009)

This is a faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ original story, and it stars Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Scrooge is a stingy, miserable businessman who dislikes Christmas. Over a few nights, he’s visited by several spirits and forced to assess his way of life — or otherwise meet a terrible fate. The film is pretty dark and can be frightening or unsettling for younger viewers, so we’d recommend this Christmas movie for older kids who like a good scare!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 9+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

16. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

In “The Christmas Chronicles,” a little girl named Kate firmly believes in Santa Claus, but her older brother, Teddy, has become reckless and pessimistic since their father passed away. While their mother is out working on Christmas Eve, Kate asks Teddy to help her get a video of Santa when he visits their home. To Claire’s delight (and Teddy’s surprise), Santa shows up at their house, but things start to go wrong when the siblings hitch a ride on his sleigh.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

17. The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)

The sequel finds an unhappy Kate celebrating Christmas in Mexico with her family, her mom’s boyfriend, and his son, Jack. Kate tries to run away to Boston, but Jack follows her out of the hotel, and an evil elf named Belsnickel throws Kate and Jack through a wormhole to the North Pole! There, Kate reunites with Santa, who introduces them to Mrs. Claus. Kate and Jack are given a tour of the village and learn about Belsnickel’s origins. The elf-turned-human plots to steal the magical Star of Bethlehem and create his own Christmas village on the South Pole!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

18. A Christmas Mystery (2022)

In “A Christmas Mystery,” an observant young girl named Violet and her friend, Kenny, must find their town’s missing set of Santa’s jingle bells, which is said to bring good luck to the prosperous Pleasant Bay. Kenny’s father, Mr. Bottoms, has been accused of stealing the bells, but Kenny adamantly believes in his father’s innocence. So, Violet, Kenny, and their siblings team up to uncover the truth and find the real culprit!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Max
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

19. A Christmas Prince (2017)

If you and your kids want a lighthearted, Hallmark-type Christmas movie, Netflix has many options, including “A Christmas Prince.” This film is about an editor named Amber who is assigned to write about Prince Richard of Aldovia, who has a bad-boy reputation. When the prince fails to attend a press conference at the palace, Amber refuses to leave without a story and poses as a tutor for Princess Emily to infiltrate the castle. While undercover, Amber learns that Prince Richard is actually very kind — but she also discovers some royal family secrets.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

20. A Christmas Story (1983)

This is one of those Christmas movies you can’t help but watch year after year! “A Christmas Story” centers on a young boy named Ralphie Parker who wants nothing more than a BB gun for Christmas. Unfortunately, none of the adults in his life agree with this gift choice. Featuring menacing bullies, an apathetic mall Santa, and the iconic frozen tongue scene, this hilarious movie is loved by viewers of all ages.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

21. A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)

Set over 30 years after the original film’s events, “A Christmas Story Christmas” catches up with grown-up Ralphie, who has a family of his own and is an aspiring novelist struggling to get his long-winded book published. After receiving news that his old man has died, Ralphie brings his family to his childhood home to celebrate the holiday. Despite their sadness, Ralphie tries to make it a special Christmas, but not without some mishaps!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Max
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

22. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

This funny movie is based on the John Grisham book, “Skipping Christmas.” After their daughter, Blair, joins the Peace Corps, married couple Luther and Nora Krank plan to skip Christmas and take a cruise instead. The whole town is shocked and offended by their choice, as the Kranks (mainly Luther) refuse to participate in the holiday festivities, like buying a tree, putting up their Frosty the Snowman decoration, and throwing their annual Christmas party. But the Kranks are in for an even bigger shock when Blair suddenly announces she’ll be coming home after all.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 9+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

23. A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish (2019)

The princess in your life will love this enchanting Christmas musical, which is part of the “A Cinderella Story” film series. It’s about a teen girl named Katherine who is mistreated by her wicked stepmother, Deirdre, and her two bumbling stepsisters. Katherine, or Kat, is also an aspiring singer-songwriter and works as a singing elf at Santa Land, where she meets the kind (and wealthy) Dominic Wintergarden. The two become friends and begin to like each other, but Kat worries it’ll never work because they come from two different worlds.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 9+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

24. Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (2009)

In this Curious George special, George is eager for Christmas to arrive. He hilariously wakes the Man with the Yellow Hat at 5 a.m. every morning, thinking it’s the big day! As they count down to the holiday, George and his caretaker do Christmas activities (like picking out a tree) and try to find gifts for each other. But George doesn’t know what to make for his friend, and the Man with the Yellow Hat can’t understand George’s wish list, which is just shapes and scribbles!

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV

25. DreamWorks Home: For the Holidays (2017)

This rambunctious Christmas special features characters from the DreamWorks movie “Home” and will likely be enjoyed by younger kids. Tip teaches her alien friend, Oh, all about Christmas, and Oh is excited to celebrate. Oh tells the other Boovs about Christmas, but the well-meaning aliens misunderstand the holiday traditions and become destructive. Tip and Oh must work together to stop the Boovs from ruining everything! Meanwhile, Tip’s mother struggles to find the perfect gift for Oh’s first Christmas.

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 7+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

26. Elf (2003)

This is such a funny Christmas movie to watch with your kids! It’s about Buddy, a human who grows up in the North Pole thinking he’s an elf. When his adoptive father reveals the truth about Buddy’s origins, he journeys to New York City in search of his biological dad. While there, Buddy spreads Christmas cheer and kindness to everyone he encounters and discovers his true place in the world.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 7+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Max
• The Roku Channel
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

27. The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story (2011)

If your family has a scout elf at home, this movie will be perfect for your little one! In “An Elf’s Story,” a scout elf named Chippey gets a special assignment from Santa: to help out a boy named Taylor McTuttle, who has stopped believing in the magic. But when he discovers how skeptical the boy is, Chippey realizes the task may be a little more challenging than he thought. Will the young scout elf find a way to help Taylor believe again?

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

28. Elf Pets: Santa’s St. Bernards Save Christmas (2021)

Here’s another Elf on the Shelf special! At the North Pole, Santa announces to the elves that Christmas cheer levels are uncharacteristically low this year. And if they don’t have enough Christmas cheer, they won’t be magical and come alive to watch over the kids! So, Santa sends St. Bernard puppy toys to collect Christmas cheer from pure-hearted children doing good deeds. One puppy ends up with a family struggling to encourage people to give to the poor and help others, and the pup must revitalize the community’s Christmas spirit.

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

29. Eloise at Christmastime (2003)

Based on the Eloise book series for kids, this Christmas movie is about a 6-year-old girl who lives at the Plaza Hotel with her nanny. Eloise gives viewers a tour of the hotel at Christmastime and introduces its staff, many of whom are annoyed by the lively but disruptive little girl. However, she’s good friends with a waiter named Bill, whose ex-girlfriend is getting married to a shady figure. Can Eloise stop the wedding and get the past lovers back together?!

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video

30. Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977)

This sweet Christmas special from Jim Henson features adorable animal puppets, charming sets, and delightful music. Emmet Otter and his mother, a widow, are poor but kind-spirited otters and are very musical. Wishing they could afford Christmas gifts for each other, they each secretly enter the same talent show competition, which has a prize of $50. But the otters learn that what makes their music special is each other!

Rating: Not Rated

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Peacock
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

31. Frosty the Snowman (1969)

This is one of the many Rankin/Bass animated Christmas specials we all know and love! In the movie, a group of children build a snowman named Frosty, who comes to life with a magical top hat. With the rising temperature, Frosty starts to sweat, and one of the children, Karen, must help him journey to the North Pole before he melts. But Professor Hinkle, a greedy magician who wants Frosty’s hat, is following close behind!

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

32. Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976)

“Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” is a cute sequel that involves Frosty returning from the North Pole to play with the children again. Jack Frost, who’s responsible for winter, is jealous of Frosty and wants to get rid of him! In addition, Frosty feels lonely at nighttime when all the children go to sleep and wishes for a companion. So, the children build him a snow wife, whom Frosty names Crystal. But how will they bring her to life?

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• Redbox

33. Get Santa (2014)

In this British film, a boy named Tom wishes to spend time with his father, Steve, who recently got out of prison and is on parole. One night, Tom finds Santa Claus in his garage, claiming that he crashed his sleigh somewhere and lost his reindeer. Steve arrives to protect Tom from the man, not believing he’s really Santa. When Santa is locked up in jail, Tom forces his dad to take him to see Santa, who says that Christmas will be canceled if he doesn’t get out, and he needs their help!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube and YouTube TV
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

34. Godmothered (2020)

This magical movie takes place during Christmastime and will enchant your littles! The Motherland, where fairy godmothers train, is closing down because people have stopped believing in “happily ever after.” But the youngest trainee, Eleanor, isn’t about to give up her dream of being a fairy godmother. After finding an assignment for a 10-year-old girl named Mackenzie Walsh, Eleanor heads to America to grant the girl’s wishes — only to discover that Mackenzie is now an adult and isn’t enthusiastic about getting Eleanor’s help.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus

35. Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas! (2011)

The Duncan family is headed to Palm Springs to celebrate Christmas in this Disney Channel movie based on the “Good Luck Charlie” series. After things go wrong at the airport, Teddy and her mother, Amy, get separated from the rest of the family! The arguing mother and daughter duo must find a way to Palm Springs in time, while the other family members have their own mishaps after landing in California.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 7+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

36. The Grinch (2018)

Based on the Dr. Seuss book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” this funny kids’ movie centers on the reclusive Grinch, who lives alone with his dog, Max. The bitter, hateful Grinch despises all the Whos in Whoville, who love celebrating Christmas. So, he plans to steal it from them this year! Meanwhile, a little girl named Cindy Lou Who searches for a way to find Santa Claus and get his help with an important task for her mother.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Redbox

37. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

If your kids are Marvel fans, they should check out this funny Christmas special featuring characters from “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Peter is grieving Gamora, and Mantis wants to cheer up her half-brother by bringing Christmas to him. She and Drax head off to Earth, where they explore Hollywood and kidnap Peter’s hero, the actor Kevin Bacon, as a Christmas present for Peter.

Rating: PG-13

Age Recommendation: Ages 12+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus

38. Holiday Rush (2019)

In this holiday rom-com, a widowed father named Rush gets fired from his job as a radio DJ right before Christmas. He and his four children, who are used to a “bougie” lifestyle, are forced to downsize and move back into their old house with their Aunt Jo. Now, the family must learn how to be content with less and focus on what they do have: each other. Rush also starts to fall for his producer/friend, Roxy, and they decide to buy their own radio station.

Rating: TV-PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

39. Home Alone (1990)

There are several movies in the “Home Alone” franchise, but the first two are the ones worth watching! In the first film, Kevin McCallister (the youngest of his siblings) is accidentally left behind when his family leaves for their Christmas vacation. When Kevin awakes and finds the house empty, he thinks he’s made his family disappear! Kevin enjoys his freedom . . . until a couple of burglars (the Wet Bandits) plan to rob his home, and he must find a way to stop them. Filled with chaos and shenanigans, this slapstick Christmas movie will put a smile on your kids’ faces.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• The Roku Channel
• Vudu
• Hulu
• Apple TV
• Starz
• YouTube and YouTube TV
• Sling TV
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Philo

40. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

In the sequel, Kevin finds himself lost again during Christmas vacation; this time, he accidentally ends up in New York City after boarding the wrong flight! Kevin uses his dad’s credit card to check into the Plaza Hotel, where he orders room service, plays in the pool, watches movies, and terrorizes the hotel staff. But to Kevin’s surprise, the Wet Bandits are also in New York, freshly escaped from prison — and seeking revenge!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• The Roku Channel
• Vudu
• Hulu
• Apple TV
• Starz
• YouTube and YouTube TV
• Sling TV
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Philo

41. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Here’s another hilarious adaptation of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” In this version, we get an interesting backstory for the Grinch; he was adopted by two Whos and bullied at school, prompting him to run off to Mount Crumpit to live alone. He’s also in love with a woman named Martha May Whovier — and the feeling is mutual. In the present day, the Grinch hates all the Whos and plans to steal Christmas from them! But while the other Whos hate or fear the Grinch, little Cindy Lou Who thinks he might be redeemable.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

42. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

This television special is very close to the original Dr. Seuss book. It features hand-drawn animation and wonderful orchestral music, including the delightfully wicked Christmas song, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” Viewers, young and old, will enjoy this classic Christmas cartoon that reminds us what the holiday is truly about.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Vudu
• Peacock

43. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (1998)

In “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” a student named Jake refuses to go home for Christmas break; he hasn’t been home for the holidays since his mom passed away and his dad remarried. Jake’s dad offers his vintage car as an incentive, and Jake finally agrees to travel home with his girlfriend. However, after a scheme to help some students cheat goes awry, the bullies leave Jake alone in the desert with a Santa costume glued on. Will Jake make it up to his girlfriend and find a way home in time for Christmas?

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 9+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• The Roku Channel
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

44. Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011)

As the “Ice Age” crew is setting up a tree for Christmas, Sid accidentally breaks the Christmas rock, a family heirloom that’s been in Manny’s family for generations! Manny tells Sid that Santa won’t forgive him and that he’s made it on the naughty list. After Manny’s daughter, Peaches, overhears her father saying he doesn’t believe in Santa, she suggests to Sid, Crash, and Eddie that they sneak off to the North Pole to get Sid off the naughty list and prove that Santa is real.

Rating: TV-PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video

45. It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

An angel named Daniel tries to convince his boss to help Kermit the Frog, who’s in dire need of cheering up. In a series of flashbacks, we learn that Kermit and the other Muppets were struggling to pay off a debt for their theater. They had put on a Christmas show to raise the money but could not deliver the funds in time. Daniel’s boss is finally convinced and sends the angel to show Kermit what life would’ve been like without him. (There are some sexual references/innuendos and darker themes in this Christmas movie, so it’s better suited for older kids!)

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 12+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

46. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

This Christmas movie is an absolute classic that may be more suitable for older kids as it deals with heavier topics. However, it has a valuable message about contentment and not giving up. In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey considers ending his life on Christmas Eve, but a guardian angel named Clarence helps George see what life would’ve been like for his family, friends, and community if he hadn’t been born.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 9+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• The Roku Channel
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• Plex
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

47. Jack Frost (1979)

Narrated by an adorable groundhog, this seasonal special is about the legend of Jack Frost, one of Father Winter’s many assistants. Jack is head over heels for a human girl named Elisa, who lives in the town of January Junction. He begs Father Winter to make him human, and his wish is granted with several stipulations. Eager to prove himself worthy of being human forever, Jack poses as a tailor with his friends and must defeat the evil Kubla Kraus.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Tubi
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

48. Jingle All the Way (1996)

In “Jingle All the Way,” a father named Howard forgets to buy his son, Jamie, a super-cool toy for Christmas: Turbo Man. Now it’s Christmas Eve, and Howard is searching for the popular action figure that’s sold out practically everywhere. This quest becomes even more complicated when Howard meets another father, Myron, searching for the same Christmas gift for his kid!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Sling TV
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

49. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

In this Christmas movie, a grandmother tells her two grandkids the story of Jeronicus Jangle, a masterful toymaker who runs a shop called “Jangles and Things” and creates unique, whimsical toys for kids. But it all comes crashing down when Jeronicus’ apprentice, Gustafson, steals his idea book and best creation, leading the toymaker to lose everything. Years later, during Christmastime, Jeronicus’ brilliant granddaughter, Journey, visits him for the first time and learns about his newest invention, which Gustafson also wants to steal!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

50. Klaus (2019)

This Christmas movie is hilarious and gives kids a unique origin story for Santa. In “Klaus,” the rich and entitled Jesper is forced by his dad to move to Smeerensburg, where he must work as a postman and stamp 6,000 letters within a year or risk being cut off. The town is cold, dreary, and isolated from the rest of the world, and its combative inhabitants are in a decades-long feud, which means no mail is being circulated. Jesper’s task seems impossible — until he meets a quiet, intimidating toymaker, and the two team up to deliver gifts to children.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

51. The Knight Before Christmas (2019)

Another movie option for older kids is the Netflix film, “The Knight Before Christmas.” It revolves around Sir Cole, a medieval knight from the 14th century who’s magically transported to the present day. He’s tasked with fulfilling an unnamed quest before midnight on Christmas Eve, or he won’t become a true knight! In the present, Cole meets a cynical teacher named Brooke and tries to adjust to this strange, new era as the two begin to fall for each other.

Rating: TV-PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

52. The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special (2020)

Now that the First Order has been destroyed and the Sith have been eliminated, there’s peace and freedom across the galaxy. This means everyone can celebrate the holiday Life Day once again! Several “Star Wars” characters, including Rey, Finn, Poe, and BB-8, gather for the festivities, but Rey is frustrated because she’s having difficulty training Finn to be a Jedi. After consulting ancient scrolls, Rey and BB-8 take off and must find a unique key to help with the training and return in time for Poe’s Life Day party.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus

53. Let It Snow (2019)

This Christmas movie is an option for older kids who want a more mature film, as it features themes like sexuality and romantic relationships. “Let It Snow” follows several storylines that intersect and take place on Christmas Eve. These include a high school boy trying to throw a successful party, two best friends caught up in a fight, an ordinary girl who meets a pop star, and more.

Rating: PG-13

Age Recommendation: Ages 13+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

54. A Loud House Christmas (2021)

This live-action Christmas film brings the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series “The Loud House” to life. Lincoln Loud is looking forward to his annual holiday traditions with his parents and 10 sisters. He’s even bought a 13-person toboggan as a gift for them! But things go downhill when his sister Lori announces she won’t be coming home for Christmas. Soon, other siblings drop out of their usual plans, and Lincoln’s parents want to take the remaining kids to Miami instead. Lincoln and his best friend, Clyde, have 24 hours to fix Christmas!

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Paramount Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• The Roku Channel
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube

55. Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (2021)

In this Disney Junior special, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Cuckoo-Loca prepare for Christmas together. One night, while Minnie and Donald are looking up at the sky, a mysterious bearded man (Santa Claus) appears and tells them about the Christmas Wishing Star, which will grant your wish if you genuinely believe it will come true. Later, as the gang travels, they accidentally get separated in different parts of the world! Will they all reunite at Hot Dog Hills in time for Christmas Eve?

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Disney Now
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Hulu
• YouTube
• Sling TV
• Google Play Movies & TV

56. Mickey Saves Christmas (2022)

In this stop-motion short film, Mickey decorates a cabin in the woods for him and his friends to celebrate Christmas in. As Santa and his reindeer fly toward the cabin to deliver gifts, Pluto accidentally unplugs all the lights, causing Santa to crash! One of Santa’s gift sacks, which has presents for the children of Hot Dog Hills, falls into a frozen lake, and all the gifts are gone. Mickey and his friends merrily volunteer to go to the North Pole with Santa and rebuild the children’s presents — but one reindeer gets left behind at the cabin!

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Hulu
• Sling TV
• Google Play Movies & TV

57. Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)

If you’re looking for a shorter version of “A Christmas Carol” for your kids to watch, this movie is a good option since it only runs 26 minutes long. It features Disney characters like Scrooge McDuck, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Jiminy Cricket playing roles in the story. In this short film, Ebenezer Scrooge (played by McDuck) is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future and learns an important lesson about not being selfish.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

58. Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)

This Christmas movie for kids takes place at the House of Mouse, Mickey’s dinner theater club, and features Disney characters from various films. After discovering that a snowstorm has trapped everyone in the building, Mickey throws a Christmas Eve party with all his guests! But Donald isn’t in the mood for the festivities. Mickey and the gang try to get Donald in the Christmas spirit with fun cartoons and music!

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

59. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)

“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” includes three distinct holiday cartoons. The first revolves around Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, who get stuck in an endless loop of Christmas and learn the true meaning of the holiday. The second cartoon is about Goofy and his son, Max, who wrestles with his belief in Santa Claus after being told he doesn’t exist. Finally, the third cartoon focuses on Mickey and Minnie as they each give up a prized possession to buy the other a special gift. The movie ends with all the characters singing Christmas carols!

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

60. Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)

This sequel is also an anthology film, and it features five festive cartoons. The first involves Minnie and Daisy, who compete against each other in an ice skating contest but learn that it’s better to work as a team. In the second story, the naughty Huey, Dewey, and Louie travel to the North Pole to add their names to Santa’s nice list. Then, Max brings his girlfriend home for Christmas to meet his accident-prone dad, Goofy. The fourth story focuses on Donald’s annoyance with the holidays, and lastly, Pluto runs away to the North Pole after a fight with Mickey, who must make it up to his loving pup.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• Google Play Movies & TV

61. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

The captivating classic, “Miracle on 34th Street,” is about a man named Kris Kringle who begins working as Santa Claus at Macy’s. Kris is a rather unorthodox department store Santa, as he sends parents to whatever place has the cheapest toy they’re seeking, even if it’s not Macy’s. Ironically, this does wonders for the store, as parents appreciate his honesty. Doris, one of Macy’s employees, has a young daughter named Susan, who doesn’t believe Santa exists, but when she meets Kris, her outlook begins to change.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

62. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

In this remake, Kris Kringle is asked to take over for an intoxicated Santa Claus worker in the Cole’s (instead of Macy’s) Thanksgiving parade. He’s soon hired by the department store (which isn’t doing well financially) and ends up being good for business. Like the original, the film has a precocious girl named Susan whose unbelieving nature is tested when she meets Kris Kringle. However, in this version, executives from a rival store are trying to sabotage Cole’s and are the ones who attempt to get Kris sent to a mental institution.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

63. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The Muppets’ take on “A Christmas Carol” is filled with music, funny jokes, and lots of physical humor, making it an excellent movie for kids. It features Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge and the Muppets in other key roles, such as Kermit the Frog playing Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit, and the Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat acting as the narrators. The story lends itself to being a little scary for very young children, but this is a fun watch for the family!

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV

64. A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (2008)

While the Muppets are delivering their Christmas letters to the post office (in song, of course), Gonzo speeds up the mail flow and sends the whole room into chaos. After they leave, Gonzo notices he’s accidentally taken home a few letters, including one from their neighbor Claire to Santa Claus. The Muppets attempt to get her letter to Santa (through carrier pigeons, an invention from Dr. Bunsen, etc.) but fail. Most of the gang, including Miss Piggy, head off on their vacations, but Kermit, Fozzie, Pepe, and Rizzo stick it out and set off with Gonzo to deliver Claire’s letter.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• Youtube
• Google Play Movies & TV

65. The Nativity Story (2006)

“The Nativity Story” is a good movie for teaching kids about the origin of Christmas. Starring Oscar Isaac, this biblical film showcases two miraculous births, first for Zechariah and Elizabeth and then for Mary and Joseph. Elizabeth, an older woman, discovers she’s pregnant after her husband receives a message from God. Later on, Mary, who’s Elizabeth’s cousin and a virgin, also becomes pregnant. Joseph initially struggles with this news, but after a vision from an angel, the two set off on a long, arduous journey to Bethlehem and find a place for Mary to give birth.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

66. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Whether you’re in the camp of this being more of a Halloween or Christmas movie, it’s undoubtedly a great one to watch with your kids this holiday season. In this spooky musical, the residents of Halloweentown, led by Jack Skellington, attempt to take over Christmas! This involves kidnapping “Sandy Claws,” making ghoulish toys and other gifts, and Jack delivering their frightening presents to all the children.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 7+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

67. Noelle (2019)

This movie is about Santa Claus’ daughter and son, Noelle and Nick Kringle. After their father passes away, Nick is responsible for taking on Santa’s duties, which he’s none too enthusiastic about. On the other hand, Noelle is filled with Christmas spirit and helps her brother out with his Santa training. At Noelle’s suggestion, Nick takes a weekend off to de-stress, but when he doesn’t return, it’s up to Noelle to get her brother back and save Christmas. This Christmas movie is a delightful watch, and kids will love Noelle’s adorable baby reindeer companion, Snowcone!

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• FuboTV

68. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

This visually stunning fantasy film reinvents the story of “The Nutcracker.” It centers on a clever young girl named Clara, whose mother has passed away and left her with a mysterious egg-shaped trinket that’s locked and has no key. At a Christmas Eve party, Clara discovers a door to another world, which her mother created and reigned over as queen. As the new princess, Clara must find the missing key and resolve the ongoing war in this mystical land.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

69. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)

It’s Arendelle’s first Christmas in forever, and Anna and Elsa are throwing a surprise party at the palace to celebrate. After Olaf and the sisters ring the Yule bell, marking the start of the holiday, the townspeople head home to carry out their family traditions. Anna and Elsa are sad that everyone has left and that they have no holiday traditions of their own (due to being separated during childhood). So, Olaf and Sven head into town to find the sisters a Christmas tradition they can borrow!

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Vudu

70. Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas (2016)

In “Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas,” Elmo’s dad tells him a bedtime story about what life used to be like in their neighborhood. Unlike today, Sesame Street had a reputation for being mean and unfriendly, and no one celebrated any holidays, including Christmas! That was until Elmo’s great-great-grandmonster (also named Elmo) came to town and showed everyone what it means to be nice and have Christmas spirit.

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Apple TV

71. The Polar Express (2004)

Based on the beloved children’s book, “The Polar Express” is a film about a magical train that takes children to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. It focuses on a boy who wants to believe in Santa but struggles to fight his doubt, as well as the friends he makes on the train and their paths to self-discovery. Some scenes can be dark and frightening, so we don’t recommend this Christmas movie for smaller kids!

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

72. Prancer (1989)

Here’s an emotional (though a little dated) Christmas film about a sweet girl named Jessica who lives with her older brother and her father, Steve, a widower. Certain that Jessica needs a mother figure in her life, Steve plans to have her move in with her Aunt Sarah, but Jessica doesn’t want to leave. While walking in the woods one night, Jessica comes across a reindeer, which she believes belongs to Santa Claus and is named Prancer. Jessica feels compassion for the injured animal and secretly tries to nurse it back to health.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Tubi
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• Redbox

73. The Preacher’s Wife (1996)

This family-friendly Christmas movie has superb music and stars Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. A little boy named Jeremiah is downcast after his best friend, Hakim, moves away. Jeremiah’s parents have some problems of their own; his father, Henry, is a pastor struggling with competing duties, and his mother, Julia, is feeling neglected as a result. After Henry prays to God for help, an angel named Dudley comes down from heaven to assist the family — but accidentally finds himself falling for Julia!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

74. Prep & Landing (2009)

Wayne is part of Prep and Landing, a specialized elf squad that prepares houses for Santa’s arrival (checking cookies and milk, ensuring kids are asleep, etc.). Since Wayne has been in this position for a long time, he’s expecting a promotion — but Santa promotes his partner instead. Now, a resentful Wayne has a new partner named Lanny, a young recruit who needs training. During their mission, Wayne is careless and is seen by a child, which means Santa will skip that house! This is a wake-up call for Wayne, who realizes the importance of his job and must fix the issue.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Apple TV

75. Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011)

Wayne and Lanny return in this sequel, and this time, we learn about Prep and Landing’s counterparts for the naughty list: the Coal Elf Brigade, who delivers coal to bad kids on Christmas. The previous year, a naughty girl had stolen one of the squad’s devices and is now trying to use it to get on the nice list. To retrieve it, Wayne and Lanny need the help of an elf from the coal brigade — Wayne’s younger brother, Noel. Wayne struggles with his jealousy of Noel, but when Lanny gets captured by the girl, he must work with his brother to complete the mission.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus

76. The Princess Switch (2018)

This Christmas movie series is a fun option for older kids. In the first film, a baker named Stacy travels to the fictional country of Belgravia with her friend, Kevin, and his daughter for a baking competition. While there, Stacy meets Lady Margaret, the Duchess of Montenaro, and the two realize they’re identical! Margaret, who’s engaged to Prince Edward of Belgravia, needs some time away from her position and suggests they secretly switch places for a few days. Things take an exciting turn when Margaret falls for Kevin, and Stacy falls for the prince!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

77. The Princess Switch: Switched Again (2020)

In the second “Princess Switch” movie, Stacy is married to Prince Edward and has become the princess of Belgravia, but the two are struggling to find alone time as a couple amid their busy lives. Margaret and Kevin, on the other hand, have broken up! Regardless, Kevin and his daughter join Stacy and Edward in visiting Montenaro for Margaret’s coronation — and the sparks are still there. Meanwhile, Margaret’s evil, money-hungry cousin Fiona and her “minions” threaten Margaret’s future position as queen.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

78. Robin Robin (2021)

This stop-motion musical from Netflix is about a family of mice that rescues and takes in a baby robin. Robin grows up with the mouse family but doesn’t entirely fit in, especially when they sneak into people’s homes to scavenge for food, as Robin is clumsy and gets caught easily. One night, Robin meets a magpie who tells her about a magic wishing star (a star topper on a family’s Christmas tree), prompting the birds to go after it so they can make a wish.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

79. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

In this classic holiday special, a reindeer named Rudolph is ostracized by his peers for having a bright red nose that glows. But Rudolph realizes he isn’t alone when he meets other outcasts, such as an elf named Hermey who wants to be a dentist and a group of misfit toys. Later, he and his friends prove their worth by battling the Abominable Snow Monster, and Rudolph saves Christmas by lighting Santa’s way through a foggy night. This Christmas movie can open up conversations with kids about valuing your unique traits and accepting others who are different.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video

80. Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws (2009)

Santa Claus and his dog, Santa Paws, discover that the great Christmas icicle is melting because kids and pups don’t believe like they used to; they lack Christmas spirit and are more focused on receiving than giving. It’s up to Puppy Paws to teach the next generation about the importance of Christmas. However, Puppy Paws is irresponsible and doesn’t want this job, prompting him to run away to the town of Fernfield to live among normal pups: the Buddies.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

81. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970)

This adorable Rankin/Bass special explains how a boy named Kris Kringle became Santa Claus. When he was a baby, Kris was taken in by the Kringles, an elf family passionate about toymaking. Once Kris is older, he decides to deliver his family’s toys to the children in Sombertown to make them happy. This task proves difficult, as Mayor Burgermeister Meisterburger has outlawed toys. Kris and his friends must find a way around the tyrant’s ban!

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video

82. The Santa Clause (1994)

This film series is a favorite among many families and can make for a fun holiday marathon! In the first film, ad man Scott Calvin finds himself in a new line of work when Santa Claus falls off his roof on Christmas Eve. Scott reluctantly takes up Santa’s mantle and slowly transforms into the plump, bearded Christmas figure, much to the delight of his son, Charlie. Due to his new role’s secret (and unbelievable) nature, Scott faces criticism from his company, his ex-wife, and others as he tries to manage both worlds.

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 9+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

83. The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

In the sequel, Scott learns about another clause in his contract: the “Mrs. Clause,” stipulating that he must be married or forfeit his role! This means Scott must find a wife by next Christmas Eve, prompting him to return home. Scott is also dealing with his son Charlie, who’s now in high school and entering a rebellious phase, landing him on the naughty list. Charlie’s misconduct leads Scott to meet his school principal, Carol, whom Scott begins to fall for. But back at the North Pole, Scott’s stand-in Santa (named “Toy Santa”) is taking things to the extreme.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 7+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

84. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)

The last film of this series finds Santa with a lot on his plate — and not just cookies! 😉 His wife, Carol, is pregnant and almost due, his in-laws (who don’t know he’s Santa) are coming to visit the North Pole, and another Legendary Figure, Jack Frost, wants to take over the Christmas holiday. Jack Frost even convinces Santa to let him help out at his workshop, where the icy trickster sabotages toy production and freezes some of Santa’s family! (If you and your kids want more from this franchise, check out the Disney Plus series, “The Santa Clauses.”)

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 7+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

85. Santa Hunters (2014)

A group of kids team up to prove Santa’s existence in the Nickelodeon Christmas movie, “Santa Hunters.” Join Alex, his sister Elizabeth, and his cousins Zoey and Richard as they devise a plan to show the world that Santa is real. Though the others start to lose hope during their mission, Alex remains determined — but the kids are in for a shock when they learn the truth about Santa and his magic.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Paramount Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• The Roku Channel
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

86. Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays (2012)

Your favorite mystery solvers come face-to-face with a freaky snowman monster in “Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays.” This Christmas special involves a haunted clock tower, an old mansion, a toy store, the “Sinister Snowman,” and even Santa Claus! Will the gang be able to solve this holiday mystery?!

Rating: Not Rated

Age Recommendation: Ages 7+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video

87. Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)

Here’s a recent adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” from Netflix. This musical version retells the classic story for a new generation with dazzling animation and whimsical songs. The plot isn’t much different from other versions, but there are some fun additions that kids will like, such as Scrooge’s pet dog and original music.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

88. The Search for Santa Paws (2010)

This film is a prequel to “Santa Buddies” and follows a few storylines. On his birthday, Santa receives sad news: his friend Mr. Hucklebuckle, who ran a toy store in New York, has passed away. To cheer him up, one of the elves brings Santa’s dog plush (a gift from his friend) to life, and Santa names it Puppy Paws! Meanwhile, Mr. Hucklebuckle’s grandson visits the toy shop, where he and his wife must operate it through Christmas before the deed can be transferred to them. In addition, a little girl adjusts to life at an orphanage run by the mean Ms. Stout.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

89. Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (2021)

This funny Netflix special features Shaun the Sheep as he and the other farm animals prepare for Christmas. The sheep aren’t too happy when Bitzer, the Farmer’s dog, gives them a box of tiny stockings to hang on their fireplace. Seeking bigger vessels to hold their Christmas presents, Shaun and a little sheep named Timmy sneak into the Farmer’s house to steal larger stockings. Unfortunately, Timmy mistakes the Farmer for Santa Claus and hops into his truck as it drives away! It’s up to Shaun and the other sheep to get Timmy back to his mother.

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

90. The Small One (1978)

This touching Christmas story reminds children that there’s a place for little ones in the world! The short film is set in ancient times near Nazareth, where a young boy lives with his father. The boy shares a close bond with their littlest donkey, Small One, but when the old donkey can no longer carry its load, the father instructs the boy to sell the animal. The boy reluctantly takes Small One to the market, but the buyers find the donkey undesirable. Finally, a kind man named Joseph approaches the boy and asks if Small One can carry his wife, Mary, to Bethlehem.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

91. Spirited (2022)

Here’s another take on “A Christmas Carol” that’s fun for families with older kids! This creative movie gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the operation led by Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future as their team transforms one wicked person every Christmas. Present is being pushed to retire and feeling disheartened lately, worried they’re not having a big enough impact on the world. But Present finds the perfect target for this Christmas: an “unredeemable” but influential PR person named Clint Briggs.

Rating: PG-13

Age Recommendation: Ages 13+

Where To Watch:

• Apple TV

92. Spookley and the Christmas Kittens (2019)

This music-filled special will be entertaining for little kids! One Christmas, a red and green cat without a home is taken in by Santa Claus and named Mistletoe. A year later, the cat shows up at Holiday Hill Farm with no memory of who he is or where he came from. Though no one else on the farm wants to help, Spookley sets off to help Misletoe find his home. But they have an even bigger task when Mistletoe is given three kittens that need a home!

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

93. The Star (2017)

Inspired by the nativity story, this silly cartoon is about a young donkey who works in a mill but dreams of joining the royal caravan. One day, the donkey finally has a chance to escape but gets hurt! Luckily, a woman named Mary tends to him and takes him in, calling the donkey “Bo.” Mary is pregnant with the Messiah, but King Herod is enraged by the impending birth of a new king and sends the royal dog-walker and two vicious dogs to kill the baby!

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

94. A Trash Truck Christmas (2020)

This is a super cute Christmas special for kids who are really into vehicles! In this animated Netflix special, a boy named Hank teaches Trash Truck and his animal friends about Christmas, including who Santa Claus is and how to get presents. The group excitedly adorns their “Tree Fort” with lights, handmade decorations, and a “trash tree.” They each write a wishlist for Santa, but Trash Truck and the animals worry Santa won’t visit them. Suddenly, Santa crashes into their junkyard because his sleigh is too heavy, and he needs the group’s help to deliver gifts!

Rating: TV-Y

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix

95. Trolls Holiday (2017)

This Christmas special picks up after the events of the first “Trolls” movie. Now that Trollstice is a thing of the past, the Bergens have no other holidays to celebrate. Poppy feels terrible for them and wants to help Queen Bridget and King Gristle find a new holiday! The trolls put on a holiday presentation that overwhelms Bridget, causing her to (mildly) argue with Poppy. Eventually, Bridget realizes Poppy was just trying to help, and the Bergens decorate their town with lights, snow, a tree, and other Christmas decor as they celebrate a new holiday: Troll-A-Bration.

Rating: TV-PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

96. Trolls: Holiday in Harmony (2021)

Here’s another Christmas special from the “Trolls” franchise that kids will love! Poppy is organizing a holiday gift exchange, and she and Branch draw each other’s names. While Poppy seems confident in her gift, Branch can’t find the right present. Tiny Diamond also participates in the exchange and pulls his dad’s name, but when he tries to rap, he can’t find anything to rhyme with “diamond.” This leads him on a musical quest to find his flow again!

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 5+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Hulu
• Apple TV
• Google Play Movies & TV

97. The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000)

“The Ultimate Christmas Present” is a Disney Channel movie about two kids, Sam and Allie, who find a magical machine that controls the weather. The friends use it to make their city snow but later create a blizzard! It turns out the device belongs to Santa Claus, and he sends two of his elves to get it back. Meanwhile, a man named Edwin is in hot pursuit of the machine with an evil plan to make himself the best weatherman.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 6+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

98. Unaccompanied Minors (2006)

This chaotic Christmas movie centers on a group of kids trapped in a Chicago airport on Christmas Eve due to a blizzard. Although they’re supposed to stay in a crowded room with all the other unaccompanied minors at the airport, six kids band together and escape, determined to have a good Christmas. The movie follows their shenanigans as they run amok at the airport and get into funny situations. This film is better for older kids (who’ll be less influenced by naughty behavior).

Rating: PG

Age Recommendation: Ages 7+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

99. A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)

This movie is a terrific option for kids to watch between Christmas and New Year’s, as it features both holidays! On Christmas Eve, Pooh Bear and his friends gather for the festivities and tell Roo about the time Santa almost forgot them! In a flashback, the gang writes Christmas letters to Santa with Christopher Robin. But Pooh cannot deliver the letters in time, so he dresses up as Santa and delivers homemade gifts to his friends.

Rating: G

Age Recommendation: Ages 3+

Where To Watch:

• Disney Plus
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV

100. White Christmas (1954)

Here’s a classic Christmas musical featuring the song “White Christmas” sung by Bing Crosby. After World War II ends, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis become a musical duo, find great success with their act, and even produce a play. Lured to a nightclub under false pretenses, Bob and Phil watch two sisters perform and are wooed by them. They agree to go with the sisters, Betty and Judy, to Vermont for Christmas, where they stay at a failing inn owned by their old Army general. Bob and Phil must put on a show (with Betty and Judy) to save the inn!

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 8+

Where To Watch:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

101. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

We’re ending our list of Christmas movies for kids with another Rankin/Bass special: “The Year Without a Santa Claus.” Santa Claus has a cold and needs to cancel Christmas in this stop-motion animation film. His doctor also says no one believes in Santa anymore. To prove this theory wrong, Mrs. Claus sends two elves, Jingle and Jangle, and a reindeer, Vixen, off to find Christmas cheer in an unbelieving world! This film includes fun songs and the Miser Brothers: Heat Miser and Snow Miser.

Rating: TV-G

Age Recommendation: Ages 4+

Where To Watch:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies & TV
• Redbox

We hope the Christmas movies on our list bring you and your kids some holiday cheer! There are so many fantastic films to watch this year with the family that have valuable lessons or are simply entertaining. And if you’re looking for even more festive fun, check out our list of the best Christmas books for kids.

Try as we might, we cannot protect our children from the ups and downs of life. Sometimes, things will go well and be successful; other times, things will go awry. And while we want to stop our children from experiencing pain for them to feel happy, unfortunately, that isn’t realistic. But we can encourage our kids to be resilient and help them learn how to bounce back from challenges and adversity. A key strategy for this is developing positive self-talk.

It’s not always easy to see the positives in life, especially for our kids who are still learning. This can often lead them to assume something is wrong with them or that they are flawed, bad, or incapable. So, having a positive attitude can help them solve problems and navigate tricky situations or challenges. Teaching our kids to reframe their thoughts and have a positive attitude or to develop positive self-talk will serve them well throughout their lives.

What Is Positive Self-Talk?

Most of us have some internal dialogue; it represents our inner voice or how we talk to ourselves. This dialogue reflects what we expect from the world and ourselves, what we think we deserve, or how others will treat us.¹ Self-talk can combine conscious thoughts or ideas and unconscious things like beliefs, morals, and biases. It helps our brain process, interpret, and understand things around us, and the tone of the voice (positive or negative) can affect how we respond to these things.

Positive self-talk examples might include, “I can do this, I am capable, and I can manage this.” These messages can be incredibly powerful in reassuring, motivating, or boosting our confidence.² This is because thoughts like this turn our focus on the positives within us, or we look for solutions or ways to tackle challenges.

How Do You Recognize Negative Self-Talk?

The flip side is negative self-talk. Instead of our inner voice being an internal cheerleader, it focuses on the bad aspects of ourselves or a situation. Or that voice looks at things critically instead of motivating, reassuring, or solution-focused. Looking at problems and challenges through a negative lens can impact our emotions and well-being negatively; it can make us stressed, worried, or sad and affect our self-esteem.^2,3 Do you catch your child saying things like “I’ll never be able to do XYZ” or “I can’t, it’s too hard”? Chances are, they are experiencing some negative self-talk. Their inner voice finds it hard to identify the positives or highlight their skills or ability to tackle challenging situations.

Benefits of Positive Self-Talk for Kids

Positive self-talk for kids is critical in developing positive mental health and well-being. A positive internal voice tends to be linked to higher self-esteem and well-being.² This is because that person sees themselves in a positive light — as capable. When our kids see themselves as capable, their views on a situation change from negative (“I can’t do this”) to positive (“I can do this”). That view taps into motivation, resilience, and confidence, allowing them to keep trying or ensure they are willing to face challenges. It can help with things like having a positive outlook on life, being confident, directing themselves toward things they are good at, problem-solving, setting and working toward goals, and finding areas where they can improve and see a situation as a challenge or positive and not a negative.^2,3,4

How Can You Help Your Kids Come Up With Positive Thoughts?

First, we must identify and get our kids to tune into their internal voice. Then, we figure out what it’s telling them — is it a kind, compassionate, motivating voice or a negative voice telling them they can’t do it or aren’t good enough in some way? Once you know what kind of thought they are having, you can help them tackle or counterbalance the idea. It can help to find evidence that the thought isn’t true. For example, if your child says, “I’m no good at sports,” you can help them reframe it and find evidence against that thought. They might find running hard, for instance, but maybe they are great at tennis or golf.

Other ways to help your child come up with positive thoughts and use positive self-talk include the following:

Tackle unrealistic thoughts.

If your child says words like “always” or “never,” they probably have an unrealistic belief. It’s also doubtful that it’s 100% true. Examples could be “I never win” or “I always mess up.” You can help them find times or remember when they have done well or been able to face challenges.

Gratitude attitude.

We can help change the tone of our kids’ internal voices by getting them to change what they focus on. Over time, this becomes the new normal, and they learn to look for the positives. One way is getting them to focus on gratitude, and research tells us that a gratitude attitude helps children feel happier, more optimistic, and generally more satisfied in their lives.⁵ Perhaps you could incorporate a daily gratitude practice into each day — maybe before you leave the house or in the car on the way home — but ask them to share one thing they are grateful for that day. It can start to shift their mindset positively.

Ways To Encourage Positive Self-Talk in Children

Getting your child to shift their mindset to a more positive one may not be easy, but here are four ways you can encourage positive self-talk in your children:

1. Model Positive Behavior

Do you have an inner voice that’s compassionate or negative? How do you manage when things get tough? Be aware of your actions, and ensure that you model what positive self-talk looks like. Your child will learn directly from you and see examples of positive self-talk and how they can harness it to tackle their challenges.

2. List Their Strengths

Do some brainstorming and create a list of things they are good at and enjoy. It’s essential to have children reflect on and acknowledge their strengths. Knowing what they are good at will help them find ways to tackle problems and boost their self-esteem.

3. Help Them Succeed

If your child has a negative internal voice, you could set up an activity you know they will achieve. That way, they have some evidence that they are good at something and capable. They can start identifying real-life examples that can counteract negative thoughts of self-belief.

4. Focus on the Effort, Not the Outcome

If we only focus on outcomes, our children can develop a mindset focused on winning or achievements, and they may feel discouraged if this doesn’t happen. Instead, if we focus on appreciating and acknowledging their efforts, they can see the positives even if they don’t win or must try again.

There are many benefits to improving and developing positive self-talk in our children. However, it does take practice and support from you until it becomes more automatic. It’s also important to recognize that negative thoughts will happen, and we can’t entirely erase them, but we can reframe them as opportunities to learn and grow. If you are encouraging positive self-talk in your child and notice there doesn’t seem to be much of a shift, you might want to consider engaging with a trusted health professional like your family doctor or psychologist to ensure there isn’t something else (like depression or anxiety) influencing their well-being and self-talk.

Parents and caregivers often find it hard to watch their children struggle. Our instinct is to swoop in and eliminate obstacles they encounter. But is it beneficial or a disservice to our kids when we don’t allow them to independently problem solve? Having independent problem-solving skills can help children to succeed in so many ways.

Why Is Problem-Solving Important?

Problem-solving skills help with academic skills and developing social skills, cognitive skills, and executive functioning skills. Academically, problem-solving skills help kids develop persistence and ways to approach more challenging concepts. Socially, the ability to solve problems allows children to navigate cooperation but also conflict with others — balancing the various interests.¹

Regarding cognitive skills, problem-solving helps children expand their creativity and flexibility in approaching problems differently.² In terms of executive functioning, problem-solving skills help kids make a plan to approach a problem and then carry out the steps to execute the potential solution.³

Problem-Solving Examples

There are many opportunities for kids to practice solving problems daily. An example of social problem-solving is two kids figuring out how to build a tower together. Or it could be kids at the art table at school trying to figure out how to divvy up materials so everyone has equal access and the ability to create.

Then there’s problem-solving when gaining access to something, like when your child is extra motivated to get what they want. What if a child wants a specific snack but can’t reach the shelf it’s on? The potential solutions may include getting a step stool, climbing onto the counter, or finding an adult or older child to help. While some solutions are “safer” than others, allowing children to assess a situation and determine the best solution to their problem is invaluable.

Another example of problem-solving is knowing what to do in safety and well-being situations. I often talk through these scenarios with my elementary-aged child. What do you do if you get lost on the way home from school? What do you do if the fire alarm goes off? While the situation might not occur at that moment, it is sometimes a good idea to problem-solve “what if” situations to help them feel ready.

Problem-Solving Strategies

Children’s problem-solving strategies are very similar to those we use as adults. These include the following:

Trial and Error

Trial and error begins with identifying the problem and brainstorming potential solutions. Once you have this list of possible solutions, you make an educated guess about which one you should start with. Then give it a try! If the solution works, great. If it doesn’t, you simply move on to the next possible solution to try.

Following Instincts

When encountering problems, you don’t always have time to brainstorm and carefully evaluate potential solutions — especially when it involves one’s safety and the safety of others. In these cases, it is often essential to go with your gut. As a parent or caregiver, you can model this strategy and allow your child to practice this to foster that trust within your child.

Asking Questions

Children can ask themselves questions about the task at hand. For example, asking what is working and what isn’t, and what happens if they do something. Asking questions that involve reflection on processes can help clarify what steps to take next or alternative routes.

Accessing Prior Knowledge

This strategy involves looking back at times when a child has experienced similar difficulties. They can reflect on what worked and didn’t work before to help them resolve their present issue.

In general, as a parent or caregiver, you can foster problem-solving skills and strategies by asking open-ended questions, like:

• Why do you think that happened?
• What do you think should happen next?
• What can we change?
• How does that make you feel?

You can then give your child positive feedback for finding the solution and engaging in the problem-solving process.

8 Problem-Solving Games

In addition to solving problems during naturally occurring opportunities, there are plenty of problem-solving games and activities for kids to practice those vital skills. Some of these games include:

1. Jenga

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Jenga involves assessing a tower of wooden blocks, determining the safest part of the structure to access, and then carefully executing one’s plan to remove a plank (without the structure falling). It’s a simple game but involves so much of the problem-solving process.

2. Puzzles

Start with simple in-set puzzles for your toddler and build up to more complicated ones as your child ages. Puzzles involve planning and manipulating materials to solve the ultimate problem: How do you arrange many pieces to complete the image?

3. Scavenger Hunts

This activity begins with brainstorming the location of items and then carefully exploring one’s environment to find the items. Each item in a scavenger hunt creates an opportunity for children to engage in problem-solving. You can find printable scavenger hunts online or make your own.

4. Obstacle Courses

Setting up an obstacle course for your child in your home or an outdoor space is a great problem-solving activity. Obstacle courses allow for physical problem-solving and moving your body to reach the end of the course.

5. Mazes

A maze requires planning to determine the path to the exit! Grab your child an activity book with mazes or print some out online. You can sometimes find physical mazes for them to try, too, such as a corn maze.

6. Tangrams/Pattern Blocks

Similar to puzzles, pattern blocks like these involve finding the right pieces and then manipulating them to create an image. Your child has to negotiate space when they put pieces on the board while trying not to disturb the ones they’ve already placed.

7. Rush Hour Traffic Jam

This is a great logic game for kids that helps them develop their problem-solving skills. Each card presents a challenge, and players must plan how to move the vehicles to allow the red car to exit.

8. Keva Planks Brain Builders

This is the best problem-solving activity for budding engineers. Kids take the simple wood planks and try to make the structure shown on the card.

As a parent, I often find it hard to watch my children struggle and get frustrated. But then I remind myself that growth and positive change come from those moments of struggle. And in this case, that growth is in their ability to dissect problems. The hope is that you can raise an independent problem-solver with some guidance and modeling.

“It’s mine!” If you have a toddler, you likely have heard this cry at some point (perhaps even several times per day). Many parents have been in situations where their child just flat-out refuses to share with their friends or play cooperatively. Teaching kids to share is tricky because toddlers go through a “gimmie” or “mine” phase.

Developmentally, kids don’t always understand why sharing is essential, and it requires several skills like waiting, patience, and managing big emotions before they learn the art of sharing.¹ However, sharing and cooperation are essential, and there are ways you can encourage your toddler to develop these social skills.

Why Sharing Is Important

As grown-ups, we know the importance of teaching our kids to share; it helps them make and keep friends, cooperate to achieve shared goals, take turns, negotiate, and learn how to manage disappointment when things don’t go their way.¹ It’s a vital social skill because learning to share helps us get along with others, develop strong and mutually beneficial relationships (if we give a little, we receive things in return), and essentially learn that sharing is caring.

Why Toddlers Struggle To Share

Toddlers struggle with sharing toys and other resources like food and attention because they have to sacrifice something, which is pretty hard on them emotionally. In part, it’s because they don’t fully understand the importance of learning to share (give and take) and that it doesn’t always mean permanently losing something if they share it. But it’s also because they haven’t yet figured out that if they give or share, they are likely to receive things back; although, if toddlers are playing together, both might find it hard to share or take turns.² They also struggle with patience and might find it tricky to practice taking turns as they have difficulty waiting. Sharing also means your toddler needs to manage big feelings, a skill still emerging at this age, so tantrums and meltdowns are pretty common.³

When Is Sharing Developmentally Appropriate?

Sharing is a skill learned over time, and young children must master a few other skills before they are developmentally capable of sharing.

Toddlers

Toddlers might not share in a traditional sense, and it’s probably unrealistic to expect them to share and take turns consistently. However, we might see them starting to give resources to other people to reap the benefits. So they aren’t sharing because they are compassionate or understand that it can be reciprocal (i.e., I’ll get to take my turn soon or get something back in exchange). Instead, it’s more that they will receive some benefit from giving something away.⁴ So, toddlers might give a toy to their parents because they expect or want to receive praise in return, or they might share a cookie with a sibling to stop them from crying.

Preschool

Preschoolers are starting to understand rules or being fair and how this equates to taking turns or sharing. They might still struggle with doing this if it means giving up something or having difficulty waiting for their turn. They may also have trouble with empathy as they don’t always fully understand how or why others might feel a certain way (i.e., that person might be sad if I won’t let them have a turn on the swings). However, they may start identifying the social element and benefits of giving and receiving. They can better manage big feelings, and we can use words to reason with them or ask for their cooperation, so we start to see sharing become easier from age three onward.^2,3

How To Teach Kids To Share

Although sharing is, in part, reliant on our children reaching certain developmental milestones, there are absolutely strategies we can use when teaching our kids to share. Activities for helping our preschoolers to learn about sharing should start at home.

Talk About It

Share your thoughts about taking turns and why sharing is positive, or acknowledge when you notice good sharing behavior so they can spot it happening and take note. For instance, saying something like, “Wow, your big sister did a great job sharing her toys with you. That was kind of her.” This can get them thinking about and noticing when people share (particularly what it feels like when someone shares with them).

Play Sharing Games With Them

This could be a simple board game or cooking, baking, and taking turns stirring the ingredients together. You could even put on a timer to practice taking turns swapping a toy back and forth.

Modeling, Sharing, and Taking Turns

Our little people are always watching us and learning how they should act by seeing how we manage situations. If you want your child to learn how to share, they will learn by seeing you share, cooperate, and take turns. They will also pick up on how you handle the challenge of doing this. For example, you might say, “It’s so hard to wait my turn, so I’m going to try and play with another toy while I wait,” or share how you manage or problem-solve to help deal with the situation.

Reading Books About Sharing

Reading together is a lovely way to get some quality time with your child, and books about sharing can also be wonderful tools for preschoolers. This is because they can see sharing and how characters in the book handle it. Reading is a non-confronting way of exposing children to situations and giving them knowledge or skills without them having to do it themselves yet. You could use the story as a jumping-off point to start a conversation about sharing, how tricky it can be, and how they can learn some skills to help them practice it.

Remember: Practice Makes Perfect

Our children need time and practice to get it right. So give them plenty of chances to practice sharing. If you do this at home, when they need to put this skill to the test in real life, they will have a better chance of doing it successfully.

Set Your Expectations

If you know there is a situation coming up where they need to share or take turns, communicate your expectations or boundaries before the event. For instance, “Okay, we are having your friend over for a play date. You have many favorite toys, but your friend will also want to play with them. So, if you have a toy you both want to play with, I can help you both take turns fairly.”

Manage Big Feelings

Sometimes, strong emotions arise when our kids don’t want to share. Helping them develop skills to manage big emotions can make it easier for them to take turns or allow others to play and share. If they are angry, you could help them shift some energy by jumping, stamping, singing loudly, or doing star jumps. You could also encourage calm breathing or other relaxation strategies. Or, if they are sad, you could help them identify ways to feel better — cuddling, reading a book, finding their favorite teddy, listening to music, etc.

Teaching our kids to share is an essential milestone in their development. However, it’s also important to understand that forced sharing can teach our children the wrong lessons. They can accidentally learn that children can interrupt and take what they want, that being loud or vocal means they get their needs met (i.e., can force someone else to give up their stuff), or even that grown-ups are in charge of sorting out who gets what and when. Instead of forcing them to share, focus on building their empathy and skills to manage big feelings and show them what sharing looks and feels like. It will have a much better impact on their desire to share. The result will be a child who can handle tricky social and emotional situations, as they have patience and empathy.