25 Best Thanksgiving Songs for Kids to Celebrate the Holiday

Based on the classic children’s poem, this Thanksgiving song for kids is a holiday staple. It’s most notably featured in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving during the iconic scene where the Peanuts make the drive to Charlie Brown’s grandmother’s house. While this track is definitely fitting if you’re actually having turkey dinner at Grandma’s, it’s great for singalongs in any location.

With a Thanksgiving twist, this rhyming song will get your little ones excited for the holiday and help them learn how to count down from five. The track is upbeat, yes, but it’s also interactive: Have your child follow your lead as you demonstrate the countdown (and the turkey’s movements!) on your five fingers.

This nursery rhyme speaks to the essence of the Thanksgiving holiday—coming together—with a cheerful melody and easy-to-pick-up lyrics. This head-bopping Thanksgiving song for kids also touches on the importance of being inclusive to everyone, which is an important lesson for all ages.

Prepare your kids for Thanksgiving supper with this beloved kids’ song. The musical number is short and the lyrics are easy to remember, so your kids will be thoroughly entertained singing about cornbread muffins and 10-foot-high pumpkin pie leading up to the big feast! And they’ll be getting their stomachs ready for all the food, too!

We’d be remiss not to include this pivotal track from the Peanuts’ Thanksgiving special. This instrumental song has the most peaceful piano sounds, which makes it a soothing choice for slow November mornings or quiet evenings. Since it’s basically a lullaby, it’ll calm down your kids during their pre-bedtime wind-down.

Bring a little country charm to your Thanksgiving soundtrack with this wholesome tune about the holiday. The lyrics are filled with on-theme visuals like brown leaves, football games, and the kids’ table. Adults will also adore the bittersweet lyrics about returning to your hometown and the love that always endures.

Every little kid loves singing and dancing along to the “Hokey Pokey,” but why not try a Thanksgiving-themed version over the holiday season? This Thanksgiving song for kids still keeps the same choreography as the original, but it replaces human body parts with words like “wing,” “drumstick,” and “stuffing.” It’s fun, festive, and fitting for dance parties!

With a snappy tune and heartfelt lyrics, “Thankful” by The Juicebox Juicebox is an excellent pick for a kid-friendly holiday mix. It’ll remind your kiddos to be grateful for their friends and family and encourage them to show generosity to those who have less. Plus, the child background singers make the Thanksgiving-themed song extra relatable.

For some old-timey jazz with an important message, be sure to add this Bing Crosby number to your family’s Thanksgiving playlist. The 20th-century artist sings about the blessings we typically take for granted like “eyes to see with” and “someone to adore.” The focus on the five sense is also a great learning opportunity for younger kids!

This Thanksgiving-inspired children’s song replaces ants marching with turkeys waddling. Not only is this cheerful track a numbers song—which makes it great for preschoolers—but it also has a playful storyline wherein the turkeys try to escape a farmer who wants to catch them for Thanksgiving dinner.

Is there anything toddlers love more than shouting “Baby Shark?” Ahead of Thanksgiving, play a holiday-inspired version of the cult-favorite kid song. This festive iteration edits the characters a bit by turning them into “pilgrim sharks.” This children’s band also sings about the Mayflower ship, which suits the song’s ocean setting!

Featured in Disney’s 1948 musical film Melody Time and sung by Johnny Appleseed, this song is the purest expression of gratitude. Turning up this Thanksgiving song for kids during the holiday season will remind your children to appreciate the little blessings in their lives and in the world around them.

Want to brief your kiddos on the holiday through song? “Thanksgiving Day” by Mother Goose Club is a charming beat that outlines what happens during this celebratory Thursday, such as sitting down with family and expressing gratitude. Listening to this before the big day will prep the kids on what to expect.

Chances are, your kiddos are very familiar with the classic tune “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” To make it suitable for this holiday season, queue up a Thanksgiving-like edition. This version just replaces “happy” with “thankful,” so your little ones will still know all the words—but it’ll get them in a grateful mood.

For a more modern and surprisingly emotional iteration of “Over the River and Through the Woods,” try this fast-paced folk song ahead of family gatherings. Frances England sings about the relatable desire to live closer to your loved ones, along with the anticipation experienced before the Thanksgiving reunion. The vivid descriptions also paint the coziest Thanksgiving scene.

This Thanksgiving song for kids has simple and catchy lyrics that your children will have no other choice but to sing along to. There’s also a counting element, so it’ll teach your little ones how to tally up the number of “gobbles” in this ballad.

This worship song praises God for everything we have. Since it has child-only vocals and sweet piano instrumentals, this Thanksgiving song for kids is best to put on before your children say their prayers. Then, after you tuck them into bed, they’ll drift off quickly and dream easily.

This silly Thanksgiving song for kids will make your little ones laugh out loud. Since it describes a family of bats drinking up this traditional Thanksgiving sauce, this kooky tune will entice your little ones to lend a helping hand in the kitchen as you prepare gravy and other holiday culinary classics.

This old-school hit by the “Godfather of Soul” references a key Thanksgiving side dish your kids all know and love: buttery, creamy

mashed potatoes. With this funky ballad, James Brown also made the well-known mashed-potato dance move famous, so take it as an opportunity to teach your kids how to nail the choreography!

A slower-paced worship song with lyrics that are deep and gracious is “I Am Thankful.” The all-kid choir who performs this religious track lists off a number of blessings they’re thankful for like leaves on the trees and the light and love of God.