25 Halloween Songs for Kids: A Family Party Playlist with Spookiness Ratings
For younger children, start with “Knock Knock, Trick or Treat?”, “The Skeleton Dance” and “Five Little Pumpkins”. For a family dance party, add “Monster Mash”, “Ghostbusters” and Andrew Gold’s “Spooky, Scary Skeletons”.
The best Halloween playlist for kids depends on how much spookiness they enjoy. A cheerful song about dressing up can suit a preschool party; a dramatic film song about monsters might be better saved for older children.
These 25 selections are grouped to help you choose. The scare levels and age bands are suggestions, not official classifications. Preview the exact recording for your group, especially if you plan to show its video: the pictures can be much scarier than the song.
How to use the spookiness ratings
| Rating | What to expect | Suggested starting point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Gentle | Dressing up, pumpkins, simple actions or playful make-believe | Preschool and family activities |
| 2 — Mildly spooky | Ghosts, witches, skeletons or comic monsters | Primary-school children comfortable with Halloween themes |
| 3 — Stronger scares | More intense monster imagery, threatening language or dramatic effects | Older children who actively enjoy spooky material |
Choose by the child rather than treating an age band as a guarantee. A familiar song can feel very different when the lights are low and everyone is wearing masks.
Gentle Halloween songs for younger children
1. “Knock Knock, Trick or Treat?” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: ages 3+
A costume singalong that gives children a simple way to join in. Use it before trick-or-treating or invite everyone to introduce their outfit. Super Simple identifies it as created for ages three and up.
2. “Five Little Pumpkins” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: preschool
A starting point for pumpkin-themed play. Pair it with five paper pumpkins and let children move or count them as you sing. Super Simple’s classroom ideas offer further activities.
3. “The Skeleton Dance” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: preschool and early primary
Choose this for a movement break. The official song page connects it with learning body parts, so children can join in through gestures even before they know the words.
4. “Go Away!” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: ages 3+
The idea is to tell spooky characters to leave. It can work as a playful group response, but it still mentions frightening figures; choose a pumpkin song instead for a child who would rather avoid monsters altogether. Listen here.
5. “Who Took the Candy?” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: preschool and early primary
A sweets-themed choice for an indoor party. Try it alongside a pretend guessing game using a paper sweet rather than interrupting the music to hand out treats.
6. “Baby Shark Halloween” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: preschool
An option for children who already enjoy “Baby Shark”. Put it early in the playlist to give them a familiar starting point before introducing songs they have not heard.
7. “We’re Going to the Pumpkin Patch” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: preschool
Choose this when you want autumn atmosphere without making ghosts the focus. Use it while setting out pumpkin decorations or gathering everyone for a craft activity.
8. “This Is the Way We Trick or Treat” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: preschool and early primary
A useful companion to a practice trick-or-treat game. Let children take turns approaching a pretend doorway before heading out for the real thing.
9. “Monster Party” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: preschool and early primary
Try this for a make-believe monster dance. Ask each child to invent one movement, then let the rest of the group copy it.
10. “ABC Boo” — Super Simple Songs
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: preschool and early primary
A Halloween option for children learning their letters. It offers a change of activity after several dancing songs, particularly in a classroom or nursery session.
Find tracks 5–10 in Super Simple’s “Spooky Songs” collection.
Andrew Gold songs for a family Halloween party
Andrew Gold’s Halloween Howls: Fun & Scary Music is a useful source of themed songs beyond the familiar film hits. These selections refer to his recordings, including the original album version of “Spooky, Scary Skeletons”.
11. “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” — Andrew Gold
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school and families
A lively choice for a skeleton dance. Select the album version first; a remix can change the energy considerably.
12. “It Must Be Halloween” — Andrew Gold
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school
Use this to begin the themed part of a party, once everyone has arrived and settled in.
13. “Trick or Treat” — Andrew Gold
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school
Add it while costumes are being finished or treat bags are being prepared.
14. “Gimme a Smile (The Pumpkin Song)” — Andrew Gold
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: younger children and families
A pumpkin-themed selection for a craft table or a change of pace between party games.
15. “Don’t Scream (It’s Only Halloween)” — Andrew Gold
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school
Keep this in the playful-spooky section, rather than using its reassuring title as a promise that every child will enjoy it.
16. “The Creature from the Tub” — Andrew Gold
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school
A creature-themed choice for children who like imaginary monsters. Skip it if that subject already makes bedtime difficult.
17. “Halloween Party” — Andrew Gold
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school and families
Use it as the cue to clear a little space and start the next dancing game.
18. “Witches, Witches, Witches” — Andrew Gold
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school
An extra choice for witch costumes and broomstick make-believe. Keep movement games clear of trailing costume fabric.
Familiar party songs—and bigger scares
19. “Monster Mash” — Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school and families
A comic monster-party song that suits exaggerated dancing. Try it for musical statues, inviting everyone to freeze in their best monster pose when the music stops.
20. “Ghostbusters” — Ray Parker Jr.
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school and families
The title response makes this an easy group singalong. Use the original recording if that is the version your family knows, and keep the film separate from your decision about the song.
21. “The Addams Family” theme — Vic Mizzy
Spookiness: 1 | Suggested audience: mixed ages
The finger-snapping motif is an easy activity in itself. Children who cannot snap their fingers can clap or tap instead. The official audio is a useful reference when choosing between versions.
22. “The Purple People Eater” — Sheb Wooley
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: primary school
A novelty record with a ridiculous creature at its centre. The treatment is comic, but the people-eating premise may still bother a literal-minded listener. Check the recording before adding it for younger children.
23. “Calling All the Monsters” — China Anne McClain
Spookiness: 2 | Suggested audience: older primary school
A pop choice for children who have outgrown nursery-style singalongs. Disney’s official video adds a monster-mansion setting, so preview the visuals if you plan to show them.
24. “This Is Halloween” — The Citizens of Halloween
Spookiness: 3 | Suggested audience: older children who enjoy spooky films
The opening ensemble song from The Nightmare Before Christmas brings more theatrical menace than the gentler selections above. Save it for children who enjoy that atmosphere rather than adding it automatically to a preschool playlist.
25. “Thriller” — Michael Jackson
Spookiness: 3 | Suggested audience: older children, with an adult preview
A possible finale for a group that enjoys stronger scares. The recording includes horror imagery and a sinister spoken section; the official music video adds transformations and undead characters. For a gentler finish, choose “The Skeleton Dance” instead.
A simple running order for your party
You do not need all 25 songs. A smaller selection can make a better party when it matches the activities and the children in the room.
| Party moment | Suggested selection |
|---|---|
| Arriving and showing costumes | “Knock Knock, Trick or Treat?” |
| Pumpkin crafts | “Five Little Pumpkins”; “Gimme a Smile (The Pumpkin Song)” |
| First movement game | “The Skeleton Dance” |
| Family dancing | “Monster Mash”; “Ghostbusters” |
| Older children’s dance section | “Calling All the Monsters” |
| Gentle closing activity | Repeat a familiar favourite and lower the volume |
Make a separate version for older children if they want “This Is Halloween” or “Thriller”. That is easier than trying to find one scare level that suits everyone.
Where can you listen?
The Super Simple pages linked above include videos and listening options. Andrew Gold’s Bandcamp album provides a way to explore his Halloween recordings, while Disney’s Halloween playlist offers more soundtrack ideas. These collections are broader than the selections here, so review their queues before using them at a children’s party.
When building your own playlist, save the exact versions you want and turn off autoplay suggestions if you want to keep control of what follows. A familiar title does not necessarily mean you have selected the same recording, remix or video.
For more seasonal listening after the party, explore Radar’s autumn playlist.