Winter break is right around the corner, and when the cold temperatures outside combine with the kids being home from school, it can be hard to find ways to keep everyone entertained and happy indoors. The good news? We live in the age of streaming, and there are plenty of children’s holiday movies and specials that the whole family can enjoy together.
From adorable streaming specials for preschoolers to adventure-filled feature films for all ages, there are lots of winter-themed things to watch to bring a little extra joy and wonder into the cold, dark days ahead. There’s just something especially sweet about snuggling up with the kiddos on a winter day to watch something inspiring, insightful, or just plain fun together to celebrate the season.
These kids holiday movies and specials are all available to stream right now and will provide the perfect opportunity for family bonding. Just be sure you have plenty of cookies and cocoa on hand to keep those little bellies warm and toasty, because all the snow and ice in these films may make it feel like it’s a few degrees colder inside than it actually is.
More from CafeMom: 15 New Holiday Movies & Specials To Binge-Watch This Month
'The Snowman'
Watch on: Amazon Prime
Featuring legendary rock star David Bowie, 1982’s The Snowman is a charming animated short about a little boy who builds a snowman on Christmas Eve. The snowman then comes to life and helps the little boy get to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas. The film is silent with the exception of the song Walking in the Air.
'Togo'
Watch on: Disney+
Togo, starring Willem Dafoe, is an exciting film about the true story of a sled dog who took part in the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska. Togo and his driver, Leonhard Seppala, performed the longest leg in the relay to carry diphtheria medication to the remote Alaskan village of Nome, and despite all the odds being against them, persevered, saving the lives of many in the village.
'Once Upon a Snowman'
Watch on: Disney+
The animated short Once Upon a Snowman is essentially an origin story about the beloved character Olaf from Disney’s Frozen franchise. The 12-minute short follows the quirky snowman as he first comes to life and searches the mountains surrounding Arendelle in the hopes of figuring out who — and what — he is.
'Abominable'
Watch on: Hulu
Abominable is a beautiful and inspiring animated adventure film about a group of young teenagers from a city in China who discover a yeti on the roof of their apartment building. They embark on a journey to help him find his way back to his family, despite the dangers of the journey to Mount Everest. Along the way, they’ll learn quite a bit about friendship, loyalty, and courage.
'The Snowy Day'
Watch on: Amazon Prime
A retelling of the classic children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats, this beautiful animated short — with narration by Laurence Fishburne and characters voiced by Regina King and Angela Bassett — came out as an Amazon Prime Video original in 2016 and has captured the hearts of many young children (and their grown-ups) over the past few years. It’s the sweet story of a young boy who sets out on a snowy walk through his neighborhood to his grandmother’s house to pick up Christmas Eve dinner. The film is incredibly authentic to the book and a complete joy to watch.
'Snow Buddies'
Watch on: Disney+
What kid doesn’t love movies featuring talking puppies!? Snow Buddies will likely be a hit with the elementary and younger set thanks to the crew of adorable Labrador puppies it follows. This installment is one of many in the made-for-TV franchise and it sees the precocious pups wind up on a sled dog team in Alaska after chasing down an ice cream truck transport.
'Happy Feet'
Watch on: Max
Back in 2006 Happy Feet made penguins trendy. The film is about a sweet little penguin who can’t sing like the other penguins but realizes that he has a completely different and quite exceptional talent: tap dancing! But without a “heartsong” to communicate with other penguins, his father fears he may never find a mate.
'Jack Frost'
Watch on: Max
Starring Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston, 1998’s Jack Frost is a tearjerker of a film about a young boy who loses his father in a car accident. Having disappointed his son again and again in life, a year later, the man magically returns in the form of a snowman in the hopes of setting things right.
'Snow Day'
Watch on: Amazon Prime
This 2000 film features cameos from the likes of Chevy Chase, Pam Grier, Iggy Pop, and Chris Elliot. It’s about a group of mischievous elementary schoolers who spend their snow day plotting to steal the town’s snowplow in the hopes of securing themselves a second snow day.
'Cool Runnings'
Watch on: Disney+
This ’90s classic may not take place entirely in a wintry locale, but Cool Runnings has all the winter vibes. It’s the story of a sprinter from Jamaica who is disqualified from the Olympics and rather than giving up the games altogether, sets about forming the island’s very first bobsled team, despite the obvious lack of snow to train on.
'Everest'
Watch on: Peacock
Though probably best reserved for older kids, Everest, starring Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Keira Knightley, is the intense true story of Robert Edwin Hall, an expeditionist from New Zealand who, along with another team of expeditioners, made the journey up Mount Everest in May 1996. The climbers unexpectedly had to face a vicious storm and fight to survive one of the most dangerous treks in recorded history. It’s a tearjerker, but it’s also full of triumph.
'Eight Below'
Watch on: Disney+
Starring the late Paul Walker alongside Jason Biggs and Bruce Greenwood, Eight Below is the story of three scientists on an expedition in Antarctica. After a terrible accident, they are forced to leave their sled dogs behind if they want any chance of surviving the dangerous weather conditions themselves.
'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'
Watch on: Disney+
The 2005 film adaptation of the classic C.S. Lewis fantasy/adventure tale, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, screams winter. The scenic, snowy setting as the children travel through Narnia in search of Aslan the lion just begs to be watched cuddled up under a fluffy blanket.
'Ice Princess'
Watch on: Disney+
Starring Michelle Trachtenburg and Kim Cattrall with a cameo by Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, Ice Princess is a cute film for the tween set. It’s about a young girl who sets out on a mission to become a champion figure skater while balancing the expectations of her demanding mother and her education.
'Ice Age'
Watch on: Disney+
The first in what would become a film franchise, 2002’s Ice Age is about a sabretooth tiger, a wooly mammoth, and a sloth who find a human baby during the Ice Age. The silly animal trio sets about finding the baby’s tribe and attempt to return him safely while braving the dangerous natural elements of the time.
'Cloud 9'
Watch on: Disney+
Cloud 9 is a super fun movie about a young snowboarder who is dropped from her team and ends up training with a former champion, whose career ended after an ugly wipeout that went viral. While training, the champion boarder comes to realize that he doesn’t have to give up on his own dreams.
