Every child will eventually wonder, “What child is this?” Bring the story of the Savior’s birth to life with these creative What Child Is This? Primary singing time ideas.
With these easy What Child Is This? activities, singing time becomes simple, engaging, and a little magical for your Primary kids.
A good, challenging activity below is concentration! Your Sr. Primary will especially enjoy the challenge! But it can easily be kept simple for Jr. Primary.
Also make sure to check out these other What Child Is This? singing time ideas as well (click on the link to jump to that section):
This information comes from About the Hymns on the Church’s website.
Nineteenth-century English hymn writer William Chatterton Dix is best known for his Christmas hymns. And none of those is better known than “What Child Is This?” Dix, who wrote many hymns, was neither a minister nor a scholar. But he had a finely honed gift for writing religious texts.…Dix’s text was set to the tune of the 16th-century English melody “Greensleeves.”
Find the sheet music to What Child Is This? on the Church’s website. I love its depiction of children’s earnest desire to share the gospel:
What Child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping—Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ, the King, Whom shepherds guard, and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you; Hail! Hail! the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh. Come, peasant, king, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise the song on high. The virgin sings her lullaby. Joy! Joy! for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
You may also want to check out the sing along video for What Child Is This?. It’s a great way for you to easily become more familiar with it or to show to your Primary during singing time.
Find What Child Is This? lyrics in a printable flip chart format so you can easily post the words in your Primary!
Or this What Child Is This? flip chart from LDS Choristers with pictures is also available to download:
These printables are also filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > What Child Is This?.
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Highlight the waltz rhythm in What Child Is This? with a fun game of Concentration. Keep it simple for Junior Primary children or turn up the challenge for Senior and combined Primaries!
Have the Primary view the above video screen. Watch the video again (or use the picture flip chart) but pause after each verse to ask these directive listening questions:
Verse 1:
Verse 2:
Verse 3:
This handbell chart utilizes simple chording on the chorus. Make sure to check out more details for using handbells in singing time.
These printables are filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > What Child Is This?
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Click the button below and enter your information to gain access to the Resource Library!
Merry Bells also has handbell charts for What Child Is This?:
Set up a nativity set on a table at the front of the room with multiple pieces. Or use nativity printables (like these Nativity printables from Susan Fitch) to create a nativity on the board.
Have children close their eyes as you remove one of the pieces of the nativity. Then have them open their eyes.
As you sing, children must decipher which nativity piece is missing. After singing, take answers and reveal the missing piece. Then replace it.
Repeat by removing different nativity pieces while children decipher what pieces are missing as you sing until all the pieces have been removed/replaced.
Gather and print a baby picture of each child in your Primary. Before Primary, Write “What child is this?” and the lyrics on the board.
Post a baby picture (or a few, depending on the size of your Primary) or pass them around as you sing the song. Afterwards, guess who is in the photo. The guessed child erases a word. Repeat with new baby pictures until all the children have had a turn and the words have been erased.
Check out this YouTube video for teaching What Child Is This? using sign language:
Then make sure to check out my post for more helpful tips for teaching sign language in singing time!
How are you teaching What Child Is This? in singing time? Leave a comment with your suggestions and ideas!
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > What Child Is This?
Singing time just got even easier! With my Singing Time To-Go, all you have to do is print! Be prepared for the entire month – every month!
Be prepared in singing time for the entire month – every month! And all you have to do is print!
These singing time ideas for teaching the Primary song, Love Is Spoken Here will help your Primary fall in love all over again with this song! My favorite is using a match-up activity that puts the double melody together! But whatever you choose, these Love Is Spoken Here singing time ideas are bound to accommodate your Primary’s learning style and needs!
The 2nd hour of church has significantly changed for Sunday School, Relief Society, Elders Quorum and all youth classes. However, Primary received a minor change that you might not have noticed.
Add an extra touch of fun to your Primary program by passing out invitations. On the big day, pull it all together with a unique 2026 Primary program bulletin created by your Primary children!
Hundreds of printables organized by song title and category that coincide with my singing time lesson plan posts!
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Singing time just got even easier! With my Singing Time To-Go, all you have to do is print! Be prepared for the entire month – every month!
