The Best Halloween Music for Kids: 36 Songs

The spookiest time of year is almost upon us, and you’ve already got your kids' costumes ready, a selection of family-friendly Halloween movies queued up and all the candy hidden in the back of the pantry. The only thing that’s missing? A soundtrack to get you and your brood into the mood. Good news: Our roundup of Halloween music for kids—complete with classic rock hits, nostalgic '80s jams and kid-driven tunes that will put a spell on everyone (tantrum-prone toddler included).

The opening of this Frankenstein-inspired track features some appropriately spooky sound effects—and the rest will just make you want to do the mashed potato. Add this 60s era graveyard smash to your Halloween playlist for doo-wop dance party vibes that both parents and kids can get down with.

If ‘Baby Shark’ is already haunting you year-round, you might want to take a hard pass on this one. Still, there’s no denying that this Halloween twist on the original Pinkfong earworm will be a big hit with the wee ones. Ghastly, isn’t it?

A sassy rocker of a theme song that’s sure to get kids of all ages bopping along—and sing-shouting, “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts!”—whilst the grown-ups in the room enjoy a refreshing dose of 80s nostalgia. Win win.

Werewolves are mutilating people in London, but we promise your kid won’t care. Yep, it’s hard to find a song that does macabre-but-joyful better than this late 70s classic. All we can say is...Ah-oooo.

Equal parts spooky and jaunty, the theme song from the beloved 60s TV series The Munsters is a must-have on any kid-friendly Halloween mix. PSA for parents of tweens and teens: Both the music and the show have stood the test of time.

It’s hard not to groove along to Donovan’s psychedelic pop hit—and it might as well have been written about Halloween. (It’s all in the title, kids.)

The Kiboomers are 20 year veterans of the educational kids’ music scene, so it should come as no surprise they’ve got Halloween covered. OK, there’s nothing remotely spooky about this ditty, but it’s guaranteed to get toddlers and preschoolers on the dance floor.

Introduce your kid to the Addams family, especially the animated film and add the enduring theme song to your Halloween soundtrack, and get ready to hear a whole lot of snapping.

Your toddler is obsessed with the OG version so, of course, this Halloween spin on the classic is guaranteed to be a hit. It’s silly, catchy and totally on-theme. (The accompanying music video is also quite adorable.)

This number has obvious Halloween playlist appeal, but some versions are better than others for little ones. Here, Annie Lennox’s vocals are on point (duh) and, most importantly, unlikely to scare your kid silly the way Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’s singing will.

Pleasantly spooky and 100 percent celebratory, Danny Elfman’s “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas is the goth-pop holiday anthem that every kid needs to hear.

The movie is campy, weird, wonderful and best suited for teens and up; the soundtrack, on the other hand, is a whole lot of fun for all ages. Case in point: “The Time Warp,” a wild rocker of a tune with loads of theatrical flair and dance potential to boot.

A short but sweet nursery rhyme with a festive twist, this sing-songy number is best for the littlest monsters in your life.

This late 50s classic from Sheb Wooley has a tongue-twisting chorus so catchy that every kid in the room will be chanting it by the end of the song (and possibly for days thereafter).

Another cult classic musical spoof with a winning soundtrack, the intro song to Little Shop of Horrors is a 60s doo-wop number so good that kids will bop along without even noticing the ominous warning.

Fun fact: The sped-up stylings used for the voice of the witch doctor in this upbeat track from the late 50s would later become the signature sound of Seville’s hit show, The Chipmunks. And really, who knew an unintelligible chorus could be so catchy?

This rockin’ dance number from Jim Henson’s Labyrinth boasts a call and reply verse that kids can’t get enough of—and it’s every bit as cool as you’d expect from a song written and recorded by David Bowie.

Family-friendly lyrics with a solid dose of irony pair well with the rockin’ electric guitar here. If we didn’t know any better, we’d think Weezer started making kids’ music.

With its acoustic guitar and cheery vocals, this song delivers on its promise—namely, to have every pint-sized party-goer doing “the monster wiggle ‘round the room.” Yep, Laurie Berkner knows her audience.

For the littles, this Halloween-themed take on the classic “Down by the Bay” will have them giggling with glee. (Bonus: The adorable cartoon video also makes for great toddler time entertainment.)

Presenting, the rallying cry of every single kid on Halloween. (‘Trick-or-treat’ is great and all, but Bow Wow Wow sings it better...no?)

Good news: The kings of soft country rock have a Halloween crowd-pleaser in their repertoire that fits the theme without taking it too far for the young ones in your brood.

There’s nothing scary about this swinging tune which features Ella Fitzgerald’s inimitable voice and the jazzy instrumentation that typically accompanies it. Put this one on when the party is warming up (or winding down).

A mildly spooky sound, kid-friendly lyrics and a fun black-and-white animated video—this 1929 classic from Andrew Gold and Disney is actually just really good.

British rocker Jarvis Cocker of Pulp lends his vocal talent and dance-y rock stylings to this undeniably eerie number from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. (Hint: It’s a shoo-in with young witches and wizards.)

This kid-driven pop song about monsters and boogeymen under the bed has plenty of personality and zero scares—a perfect choice for the toddler and pre-k crowd.

This powerful rejection of superstition sort of flies in the face of Halloween festivities. Still, it doesn’t stray from the theme—and, frankly, Stevie Wonder’s classic soul sound is so good no one will say boo about it.

The lively 50s sound here may pair better with blue suede shoes than, say, a black hat—but it has Halloween written all over it, nevertheless.

Highly relatable, this ode to the highs and lows of finding the perfect costume is one that kids of all ages will sing and sway along to.

Originally written for Stephen King’s film of the same name, this too-cool-for-school hit from the Ramones is Halloween gold that’ll give slightly older kids a leg up on good musical taste.

Mystery, suspense, and dance beats that will get little monsters moving—this kid-driven ditty has all the makings of a Halloween playlist hit for the under-ten set.

Thoroughly creepy and oh-so fun at Halloween, Sam the Sham’s hit from the summer of ‘66 might tell a familiar story, but it sure never gets old.

Attention young ghouls, goblins, witches and zombies: Jim Morrison has got your number this Halloween.

This Halloween-themed hip hop track from Grammy award winning artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has more street cred than you’ll find in any other kid’s song (and yes, we realize the absurdity of that statement).

There’s nothing too scary about this classic American rock hit from good ol’ CCR, which boasts all-ages appeal and a foreboding mood that’s entirely on point.