Born in a Stable is a very simple Nativity song sung to the tune of Baa, Baa Black Sheep with easy actions, just perfect for introducing the Christmas Story in a way that very little ones can understand.
Often, traditional Christmas carols might be a bit too difficult for younger children, so this simple little song really helps them connect with the words and engage with the story.
It is also perfect to sing whilst playing with a toy nativity set or to accompany crafts during Advent.
Born in a Stable: Advent / Simple Nativity Song for Kids
Born in a stable, (make a roof with your hands)
A long way away, (point to the distance)
A little tiny baby, (cradle imaginary baby)
In a bed of hay. (rock baby Jesus)
*
His Mother was Mary, (hands together in prayer)
And the Angels sing, (hand together in prayer)
“Glory to God!” (hold up arms in praise)
For the birth of a King, (hold up arms in praise)
*
Three Kings came to see him, (hands make a crown on head)
From lands far away, (hand over eyes looking far away)
They followed the star, (make a diamond shape with fingers)
To praise him on this day. (lift hands in praise)
*
The baby’s name is Jesus, (lift hands in praise)
He is the son of God, (lift hands in praise)
He came to teach us how to live, (hands together in prayer)
Our Saviour and Our Lord. (hands together in prayer)
(sing to the tune of Baa, Baa Black Sheep)
Melody for Born in a Stable: Advent / Simple Nativity Song for Kids
Accompany the song with the simple actions as described in the brackets above. The words fit in easily to the traditional tune for Baa Baa Black Sheep, then you just repeat it.
Here are the KS1 Christmas Singers from St. Mary’s at Crewe singing Born In A Stable for the 12 Schools of Christmas competition.
Aren’t they brilliant!
If you’d like some more very easy ideas for little ones, visit our Five Simple Christmas Piggyback songs for 2-5 Year olds.
Can I get a copy of the words to the song, Born In A Stable? How can I also get the music to it as it’s played on your video. Id like our kids to learn to sing it . Thanks. Claudia
Hi, I’ve just added a lyric sheet to the post, so you can find it there. The tune is just the same as Baa Baa Black Sheep!
Has anyone made a music sheet for this? We are looking at having the tune played on the piano.
Many thanks!
Hi Jess,
Born In The Stable is sung to the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep the sheet for which can be found here –https://www.letsplaykidsmusic.com/baa-baa-black-sheep/
Thank you so much for this sweet song. I would love to use it with my kindergarten class. I will credit Let’s Play Music😊🙏🏼
You’re very welcome, I do hope everyone has a lovely time singing it! 😊
Well done Sara!
Lovely song.
Sadly don’t think we’d be allowed to use it in our schools in Australia (too overtly religious)
I have another very simple nativity song which I’d like to send you…not sure where it came from but I used it every Christmas when I was teaching in England. Goes well with beginnner recorders too.
Thanks Joy, I would be very interested in your simple nativity song and would love to share it here on the blog if that’s ok with you! 😊
I came up with a verse for the shepherds:
The shepherds came to see him
From fields that were near.
They knelt down in wonder
On a midnight clear.
That’s great Mary, thanks for suggesting this additional verse, I’m sure that other readers will find it useful! 👍
Hi Sara,
I am trying to send you the link but the comment just disappears so I don’t think I am allowed to.
My YouTube channel is jago2012justsing and you will find it there- I would love you to hear it!
Juliet
Hi Juliet, So sorry for the delay, I’ve just listened to your fabulous KS1 singers and they sound wonderful! I’d love to put the link in the post if that’s ok?
And good luck in the competition! Sara
Thank you for this lovely song and permission to use it. It’s perfect for our Catholic ethos and for my 5-7 year olds.
I have recorded a version with my Key Stage One Christmas singing group for a competition and I would like to share it on YouTube with a credit to you on the screen. Would that be OK?
Hi, I’m delighted to hear that! Yes of course, I’d love for you to share the video and if you send me the link, if you are happy for me to do so, I’d love to embed it in the original post too. Good luck in the competition!!
We absolutely love this… Our primary school is very ambivalent about showing any preference towards Christian things. They did it’s a cracker for their nativity, and it was absolutely incredible. When they were singing “born in a stable no place for a cradle”, all the ladies were in tears. It was so mindblowingly beautiful. The girls were dressed in beautiful angel costumes and heaven touched us. I was blown away that this school had so many of their children singing such beautiful Christian truth about God’s love for them. Thank you so much… Our family can’t stop singing the songs… Xx
Thank you Catherine! I was so delighted to hear all about your Nativity! It sounded beautiful – the true meaning of Christmas ♥️
Hello – please may we use your song – Born in a stable at our church nativity this year please?
Thanks Keeva Austin
Yes of course Keeva! I’m very happy for you to use ‘Born In a Stable’ at your church nativity! That is exactly what it is there for, but I would ask if you could please credit Let’s Play Music in the programme? Thank you and I hope it goes well!
I love this! I am doing an outreach in a neighborhood in Hammod, LA. May I print and distribute??? [email protected]
Hi Donna, I’m very happy to share the song, but as I wrote these words, please could you credit it to letsplaykidsmusic.com ? Merry Christmas! 🙂
We would like to use this poem at our preschool program. Can we have permission to put the words on our overhead screen for the audience to follow along?
Hi Heather, Yes of course! I am very happy for you to use Born In A Stable in your preschool concert, that is exactly what it was intended for! Do come back and let us know how it goes!
Thank you so much for this.
You’re welcome 🙂 Born In A Stable is a great way to introduce the Christmas Story to little ones.
Is there a link to get music for the entire song? I would love to have this for my preschool choir Christmas program. The video above dosent seem long enough for the whole song. Thanks.
Hi Emilee, I wrote the words to this carol and the tune is just a variation of Baa Baa Black Sheep – the youtube video is only there to help with fitting the words to the tune. I have always found that it is best to keep preschool nativity programmes very simple – hope you all have fun getting yours ready!
Thank you for sharing this at the Kids’ Co-Op. What a lovely song – and actions too. My kids will love this. I’ll be featuring this post in my nativity activities for kids roundup. xoxo P
Thanks so much Pauline, so pleased you like it! And thanks for featuring us this week!