October circle time needs a lot of songs. Costume day, the pumpkin patch trip, the class party and every transition in between all go better with something to sing. This page collects 94 Halloween songs for preschoolers, each with full lyrics, and most set to a tune you already know, like Farmer in the Dell or I’m a Little Teapot. Fingerplays and circle games include the motions. Eight videos are mixed in so you can hear a song before you teach it, or play it while the class moves.
The songs are sorted by how spooky they are. Pumpkin songs come first, with no ghosts or witches in them at all. Then the gentle Halloween songs, the counting fingerplays, the action songs, the trick-or-treat songs and the friendly ghost songs. The truly spooky ones sit at the end, for older fours and fives who want a small shiver. Every song has a one-line note on the age it suits or the motion to pair with it. Use the list below to jump to what you need.
- How to choose Halloween songs for preschoolers
- Pumpkin and jack-o-lantern songs (25)
- Not-scary Halloween songs for young preschoolers (8)
- Halloween counting songs and fingerplays (14)
- Halloween action and dance songs (12)
- Trick-or-treat and costume songs (10)
- Friendly ghosts, bats, cats and monsters (15)
- Spooky Halloween songs for older preschoolers (10)
- Halloween song FAQ
How to choose Halloween songs for preschoolers
Start with the room, not the song list. A group of young threes in their first month of school is a different audience from a class of fives who have been trick-or-treating twice already.
Some children find Halloween genuinely frightening. Masks, dark rooms and adults saying Boo are not fun for every three-year-old, and a song about a witch casting a spell on you can land the same way. Make festive, not scary, your default. Pumpkins, costumes, candy corn, owls saying hoo and ghosts that turn out to be friendly cover most of October without a single tense moment. Save the spooky section for the last week, and for children who ask for it.
Some families do not celebrate Halloween at all, for religious or cultural reasons or simply by choice. Ask at the start of October rather than on the 30th. The easy fix is to run a pumpkin-and-fall theme alongside the Halloween one. The pumpkin songs on this page, plus our preschool fall songs and apple songs, give you a full month of music that every family can join. A child who sits out a ghost song can lead the pumpkin song ten minutes later.
Let a child sit out without making it a thing. If a song is bothering someone, offer a job instead: hold the picture card, play the drum, sit next to the teacher. No announcement, no ‘Sam is scared’. Most children rejoin on their own by the second verse.
Use dance-and-freeze songs to burn energy before a costume parade. Children in costume are already keyed up. Five minutes of Jack Hartmann’s Pumpkin Man Dance and Freeze (the video in the pumpkin section below) or If You’re a Monster, with a real freeze at the end of each verse, gets the wiggles out and gives you a quiet moment to line them up.
Use the five-little songs as counting practice. Five Little Pumpkins, Five Little Ghosts and Five Little Witches all count on fingers. Hold up five, fold one down each verse, and ask ‘how many are left?’ before you sing the number. Little Bats counts up instead, which is a nice change. Our number songs for preschool have more if the class is keen.
Keep the spooky songs silly rather than tense. The difference is the delivery. There Was an Old Woman ends in a BOO, but sung with a grin and a long pause, it’s a joke the whole class is in on. Let the children do the Boo; never do it at them. Keep the lights on, and follow anything spooky with a pumpkin song so the room settles.
Finally, plan for repetition. Preschoolers need a song four or five times before they own it. Pick six to eight songs for the month, not thirty, and sing them daily. Our Halloween circle time activities show how to pair songs with games and stories.
Pumpkin and jack-o-lantern songs
No ghosts, witches or monsters in this group. Every song is about a pumpkin growing, getting carved or glowing in a window, and the two that end in a Boo have the pumpkin saying it, which makes these the ones to reach for with young threes and with families who skip Halloween. Most sit on I’m a Little Teapot, Mary Had a Little Lamb or Muffin Man.
Jack O Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a Little Teapot”
I’m a little Jack o lantern
Fat and Fine
They picked me off a pumpkin vine
Halloween is coming don’t you know
just light my candle and watch me glow
Teapot pose with a hand on the hip; open both arms wide on ‘watch me glow’.
We are Pumpkins Big and Round
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
We are pumpkins big and round, big and round, big and round;
We are pumpkins big and round, sitting on the ground.
See our great big shiny eyes, shiny eyes, shiny eyes;
See our great big shiny eyes, looking right at you.
See our great big laughing mouth, laughing mouth, laughing mouth,
See our great big laughing mouth, smiling right at you.
Arms make a circle for ’round’, hands circle the eyes, then a big grin; no spooky content at all.
Once I Had A Pumpkin
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”
Once I had a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,
Once I had a pumpkin, with no face at all.
With no eyes and no nose, and no mouth and no teeth.
Once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.
So I made a jack-o-lantern, a jack-o-lantern, a jack-o-lantern,
So I made a jack-o-lantern, with a big funny face.
With big eyes and a big nose, and a big mouth with big teeth.
So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big funny face.
Point to each missing feature on your own face, then draw them in the air; pairs with a carving day.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
Pumpkin, Pumpkin sitting on a wall,
Pumpkin, Pumpkin tip and fall,
Pumpkin, Pumpkin Rolling down the street
Pumpkin, Pumpkin Trick or treat
Four-line chant; tip sideways on ‘fall’ and roll your hands on ‘rolling’.
I Am A Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
I am a pumpkin big and round.
Once upon a time I grew on the ground.
But now I have a mouth, two eyes and nose.
What are they for do you suppose?
When I have a candle inside, shining bright,
I’ll be a jack-o-lantern on Halloween night.
Six calm lines with no motions; nice for a pumpkin science table or a quiet transition.
Cut Into A Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
Cut into a pumpkin (Make motion as if cutting)
Scoop it with a spoon (Make scooping motion)
Carve a little mouth that turns endwise like a moon (Pretend to cut a moon)
Cut two eyes to twinkle
And a big three-cornered nose.
Use for teeth, 10 shiny seeds
Place them in grinning rows (Hold up ten fingers)
Light a little candle
And when the shadows fall
Set the jolly fellow in the darkest hall. (Pretend to set the pumpkin down)
Listen for the laughter as folds spy him (Put a hand behind your ear)
Grinning down at us all!
Act out carving step by step; use it the day the class scoops a real pumpkin.
I’m a Little Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a Little Teapot”
I’m a little pumpkin
Round and stout
Packed full of seeds that you can scoop out
When I get all carved up
Then I’ll be
The cutest Jack-o-Lantern you ever did see.
Teapot pose; ‘scoop out’ is a two-hand scooping motion.
Jack-O-Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
I am a pumpkin, big and round (use arms to show size of pumpkin)
Once upon the time I grew on the ground (point to the ground)
Now I have a mouth, two eyes, a nose (point to features on your face)
What are they there for, do you suppose? (Right forefinger to forehead,
thinking gesture) When I have a candle inside (hold up right forefinger)
Shining bright I’ll be a Jack-O-Lantern on Halloween night! (Thumbs in armpits, bragging gesture)
The same words as I Am A Pumpkin with the motions added; the bragging pose at the end gets a laugh.
Jack-O-Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
See my jack-‘o-lantern (hold hand out in front of you)
Smiling right at you. (with fingers make smile at your mouth)
You don’t need to be afraid. (turn head as afraid)
It can’t holler BOO! (say boo loudly)
Written to reassure: the jack-o-lantern can’t holler Boo; good for a nervous three-year-old.
Jack-O-Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Jolly Old St. Nick “
Jack-O-Lanterns all lit up
Sitting in a row
Just what makes them smile so much
No one seems to know
I have never heard them speak
When they start to gleam
All they do is sit and stare
And smile right back at me
A calm sit-down song; pairs with jack-o-lanterns lined up on a windowsill.
The Great Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”
I am the great pumpkin, great pumpkin, great pumpkin.
I am the great pumpkin. Come dance with me.
For you friends are my friends & my friends are your friends.
I am the great pumpkin. Come dance with me.
Pick a child to be the Great Pumpkin who invites others to dance; a gentle circle game.
Three Little Pumpkins
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Ten Little Indians”
One little, 2 little, 3 little pumpkins
Rolled down the lane like funny bumpkins
Had their faces carved & thought they were something’s
Funny Halloween jack-o-lanterns!
Roll hands for the pumpkins rolling; quick counting to three for the youngest group.
October Time
Original Author: Unknown
October time is pumpkin time,
The nicest time of the year.
When all the pumpkins light their eyes
(encircle eyes)
And grin from ear to ear.
(big grin)
Because they know at Halloween
They’ll have lots of fun,
Peeking through the windowpanes
(put hands over eyes and look)
Watching children run!
A fall rhyme with the motions marked; the Halloween mention is light.
Jack O’ Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung To: “Daniel Boone”
Born in a pumpkin patch in my backyard,
Where Mister Scarecrow stands on guard.
Born in a patch where he knew every weed –
Before he was a pumpkin, he was a pumpkin seed.
Jack O–,
Jack O’ Lantern,
King on Halloween night.
Teaches seed to pumpkin to jack-o-lantern; pairs with a pumpkin life-cycle chart.
Jack-O-Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Oscar Meyer Wiener Song”
Oh I wish I was an Orange Jack-O-Lantern
That is what I really want to be
For if I was an orange Jack-O-Lantern
Everyone would laugh and smile at me
Four lines on the Oscar Mayer jingle; the class smiles at each other on the last line.
Hiding Jack-O-Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Itsy Bitsy Spider”
Funny Jack-O-Lantern,
Where are you hiding?
Are you over here?
Or are you under there?
I will keep on looking, until I find you.
Funny jack-o-lantern,
There you are!
Itsy Bitsy Spider tune; hide a paper jack-o-lantern in the room and sing while children look.
Have You Made a Jack-O-Lantern?
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “Muffin Man”
Have you made a jack-o-lantern,
A jack-o-lantern, a jack-o-lantern,
Have you made a jack-o-lantern
For Halloween night?
Muffin Man tune, one verse; ask each child by name.
Jack-O-Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Are You Sleeping?”
Jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern
See the light: oh so bright
Shining in the night time
Shining in the night time
What a fright! What a fright!
Frere Jacques tune; flick a flashlight on ‘shining in the night time’.
I’m A Little Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m A Little Teapot”
I’m a little pumpkin short and stout (squat down with hands on hips)
Here are my eyes and here is my mouth (point to eyes and mouth)
When it’s Halloween and you are out, (point to audience)
Just lift my lid and hear me shout. (pretend to lift lid)
BOO! (jump up and shout boo)
Squat, point, then jump up on BOO; the biggest laugh in the pumpkin section.
This Is Jack-O-Happy
Original Author: Unknown
This is Jack-O-Happy. (Make happy face.)
This is Jack-O-Sad. (Make sad face.)
This is Jack-O-Sleepy. (Put head down on hands.)
This is Jack-O-Mad. (Make mad face.)
This is Jack-O-Broken
Into pieces small
Baked in a pumpkin pie (Hold hands out to serve pumpkin pie.)
That’s the best of all. (Rub tummies.)
YUM! YUM
Feelings faces on a pumpkin; use it for emotions talk as well as Halloween.
Pumpkin Song
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a little teapot”
I’m a little pumpkin
Orange and round.
Here is my stem,
There is the ground.
When I get all cut up,
Don’t you shout!
Just open me up
And scoop me out!
Teapot tune; point to your stem (head) and the ground (feet).
I’m A Little Jack-O-Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a little teapot”
I’m a little jack-o-lantern short and round.
Somebody picked me up off the ground.
They put me in the window with a light.
And BOO I’ll scare you on Halloween night.
Teapot tune ending in a Boo; jump on the last line.
Pumpkin Patch
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Take Me Out To The Ball Game”.
Take me out to the Pumpkin Patch
Take me out to the farm.
I want to buy some pumpkins there,
Big and round and orange.
Take me out to the Pumpkin Patch.
I need one for Halloween.
For it’s one, two, three pumpkins there,
Jack-o-lanterns beam!
Take Me Out to the Ball Game tune; sing it on the bus to the pumpkin patch.
Mr. Pumpkin
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “Where is thumpkin”
Mr. Pumpkin, Mr. Pumpkin,
Eyes so round, eyes so round
Halloween is coming, Halloween is coming
To my town, to my town.
Where Is Thumbkin tune; circle your eyes with your fingers on ‘eyes so round’.
Jack O. Happy
Original Author: Unknown
Have the children make a circle around their heads using their arms.
This is Jack O. Happy. (smile)
This is Jack O. Sad. (frown)
This is Jack O. Spooky. (open mouth and look frightened.)
This is Jack O. Mad. (make angry face)
This is Jack in pieces small. (open up hands)
But in a pie he’s best of all. (pat tummy)
A shorter Jack-O-Happy with an arm-circle pumpkin head; good for threes.
Not-scary Halloween songs for young preschoolers
These mention Halloween by name but keep it cheerful: costumes, cats meowing, a jack-o-lantern smiling. Halloween Pretending is the one to open with if a child is nervous. If the class takes to Spin, Spin, Little Spider, our spider songs for preschoolers and bug songs have more in the same vein.
Halloween Pretending
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Clementine”
Halloween is such a fun time.
It’s not scary, not for me.
I pretend I’m someone different.
It’s as fun as fun can be.
Says outright that Halloween is not scary; a good opener for a nervous group.
Halloween is Here
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Farmer in the dell”
Oh, Halloween is here,
Oh, Halloween is here.
Hi Ho the Derry-oh
Oh, Halloween is here.
We’ll all give a cheer
We’ll all give a cheer.
Hi Ho the Derry-oh
Oh, Halloween is here.
Two short verses on Farmer in the Dell; the easiest song on this page for three-year-olds.
Halloween
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Twinkle, Twinkle”
Halloween has come at last.
Jack-o-lanterns and black cats.
Funny faces round about.
People laugh and people shout.
The moon shines bright and cats meow.
Meow, meow, meow, meow.
Twinkle Twinkle tune, so most threes have it in one sitting; end with a big meow.
Jack -O- Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Mary had a little lamb”
Jack-o-lantern Smiling bright,
Smiling bright, smiling bright,
Witches flying in the night,
It is Halloween!
Ghosts and Goblins, cats and bats,
Cats and bats, cats and bats.
Witches with their funny hats,
It is Halloween!
Mild enough for threes; the witches here wear funny hats, so nobody gets scared.
Halloween Night
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
Jack-O-lanterns, Jack-O-lanterns
Hall-O-ween, Hall-O-ween
See the owls gliding,
Coal black cats are hiding,
Ghosts go Boo, Ghosts go Boo
Frere Jacques tune with a soft Boo, so it stays gentle.
Halloween, Halloween
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Jingle Bells”
Halloween, Halloween,
Halloween is here
Ghosts and gobblins,
spooks and bats are
Flying through the air. Boo!
Halloween, Halloween,
Halloween is here
Ghosts and gobblins,
spooks and bats are
Flying through the air. Boo!
Jingle Bells tune, two identical verses; clap on Boo.
Candy Corn
Original Author: Unknown
Candy Corn is good to eat
An Orange and Yellow and White Treat.
I only eat it one time a year,
So I’m happy the fall holidays are finally here
A four-line rhyme with no Halloween characters; sort real candy corn by color afterward.
Spin, Spin, Little Spider
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Ten Little Indians”
Spin, spin, little spider,
Spin, spin, wider, wider.
Spin, spin, little spider,
Early in the morning.
Dance, dance, little spider,
Dance, Dance, Dance out wider.
Dance, dance, little spider,
Early in the morning.
repeat second verse using “jump, crawl, run”
A spider movement song with spin, dance, jump, crawl and run verses.
Halloween counting songs and fingerplays
Every song here is built on a number, usually five, and most count on fingers. In the countdown songs, fold a finger down each verse and pause before the number so the children say it first. Most are fingerplays with the hand cues written in.
Five Little Pumpkins
Original Author: Unknown
Five little Pumpkins (One hand up)
sitting on a gate.
The first one said (Point to thumb)
“My, it’s getting late.”
The second one said, (Pointer finger)
“There are witches in the air”
The third one said, (Middle finger)
“But we don’t care”
The forth one said, (Ring finger)
“We’ll run and run and run”
The fifth one said, (Little finger)
“It’s just Halloween fun.”
“Whooooo” went the wind
And out went the light (Clap hands)
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of site.
(Roll arms)
The classic; fold one finger down per pumpkin and clap on ‘out went the light’.
Five Little Jack-O-Lanterns
Original Author: Unknown
Five little jack-o-lanterns (One hand up)
sitting on a gate.
The first one said (Point to thumb)
“My, it’s getting late.”
The second one said, (Pointer finger)
“I hear a noise.”
The third one said, (Middle finger)
“It’s just a lot of boys.”
The forth one said, (Ring finger)
“Come on let’s run.”
The fifth one said, (Little finger)
“It’s just Halloween fun.”
“Puff” went the wind
And out went the light (Close fingers into fist)
And away went the jack-o-lanterns (Open hand, fingers run behind back)
On Halloween night.
The same shape as Five Little Pumpkins with a boys-are-coming twist; close the fist on ‘out went the light’.
Five Little Pumpkins
Original Author: Unknown
Five little pumpkins growing on a vine.
Said the first little pumpkin, “Don’t I look fine?”
Said the second little pumpkin, “I’ll be a pie.”
Said the third little pumpkin, “I’ll be a lantern by and by.”
Said the fourth little pumpkin, “I will, too.”
But the fifth little pumpkin just said, “Boo!”
Shorter than the gate version and ends with a single Boo; good for threes.
One Little, Two Little…
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “One little, two little, Three little Indians”
One little, two little, three little pumpkins,
Four little, five little, six little pumpkins,
Seven little, eight little, Nine little pumpkins,
All for Halloween night.
Let’s get dad to carve the pumpkin,
Let’s get mom to carve the pumpkin,
Let’s all go to carve the pumpkin,
Just for Halloween night.
Don’t eat the seeds until mom cooks them,
Don’t eat the seeds until dad cooks them,
Don’t eat the seeds until we cook them,
Then they’ll taste just right.
Here comes the trick-or-treats dressed up,
Here comes the trick-or-treats dressed up,
Here comes the trick-or-treats dressed up,
Yes, it’s Halloween night!
Counts to nine on fingers; good for fours, and the carving verse pairs well with a real pumpkin on the table.
This Little Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
This little pumpkin was taken to market (Pointer)
And sold for fifteen cents.
This little pumpkin was made into a jack-o-lantern (Middle finger)
And stood high on a fence.
This little pumpkin was made into a pie (Ring finger)
And nevermore was seen.
This little pumpkin was taken away (Little finger)
On the night of Halloween.
Works like This Little Piggy on four fingers; a lap rhyme for the youngest threes.
Five Little Ghosts
Original Author: Unknown
Five little ghosts dressed all in white
Were scaring each other on Halloween night.
“Boo!” said the first one, “I’ll catch you.'” (Hold up pointer)
“Wooo said the second, “I don’t care if you do! (Hold up middle finger)
The third ghost said, “You can’t run away from me.” (Hold up ring finger)
And the fourth one said, “I’ll scare everyone I see! (Hold up little finger)
Then the last one said, “It’s time to disappear.” (Hold up thumb)
“See you at Halloween time next year!”
Five-finger fingerplay with the finger for each ghost marked; the last verse makes a good end-of-October goodbye.
Five Little Ghosts
Original Author: Unknown
Five little ghosts dressed all in white
Were scaring each other on Halloween night.
“Boo” said the first one, “I’ll catch you.”
“Boo” said the second, “I don’t care if you do.”
The third ghost said, “You can’t run away from me.”
And the fourth one said, “I’ll scare everyone I see”
Then the last one said, “It’s time to disappear.”
“See you at Halloween time next year”
The same rhyme as the fingerplay version without the finger cues; use it as a chant.
Five Little Goblins…
Original Author Unknown
Five little goblins on a Halloween night
Made a very, very spooky site
The first one danced on his tippy-tip-toes
The next one tumbled and bumped his nose
Than next one jumped high up in the air
The next one sang a Halloween song
Five goblins played the whole night long
Act out each goblin’s move; the tumble-and-bump line is the favorite.
Five Little Monsters
Original Author: Unknown
Five little monsters sitting by the door.
One ran away and then there were four.
Four little monsters sitting in a tree.
One fell off, and then there were three.
Three little monsters drinking orange brew.
One fell in, and then there were two.
Two Little monsters having lots of fun.
One went home, and then there was one.
One little monster sitting in the sun.
It melted away, and then there was none!
Countdown from five; the ‘melted away’ ending is silly, not scary.
Five Little Monsters 2
Original Author: Unknown
Five little monsters by the light of the moon
Stirring pudding with a wooden pudding spoon.
The first one says, “It mustn’t be runny.”
The second one says, “That would make it taste funny.”
The third one says, “It mustn’t be lumpy.”
The fourth one says, “That would make me grumpy.”
The fifth one smiles, hums a little tune,
And licks all the drippings from the wooden pudding spoon!
Monsters making pudding; hold up a finger per monster and pretend to stir.
Five Little Witches
Original Author: Unknown
Five little witches (hold up five fingers) standing by the door.
One flew out (Flying motion with hand)
And then there were four.
Four little witches (four fingers) standing by a tree.
One went to pick a pumpkin (picking motion with three fingers)
And then there were three.
Three little witches stirring their brew. (stir) One fell in
And then there were two. (two fingers)
Two little witches went for a run. (run with fingers) One got lost
And then there was one. (one finger)
One little witch, yes, only one. (one finger) She cast a spell
And now there are none. (make motions as if to cast spell and then put hands in lap)
Countdown fingerplay from five to none; ask ‘how many now?’ before each verse.
1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Witches
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “1 little, 2 little, 3 little Indians”
1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Witches
Fly over haystacks, Fly over Ditches
Slide down the moon without any hitches
Hi Ho Halloween’s Here
Quick counting song for threes; fly a hand over the haystacks and slide it down the moon.
Little Bats
Original Author: Unknown
1 little bat was trying to behave.
He hung upside down from his feet in a cave.
Another bat flew in, and said, “How do you do?”
The second joined the first, and then there were 2!
2 little bats were trying to behave.
They hung upside down from their feet in a cave.
To help pass the time, they sang “Do re me”
Another bat joined the song, and then there were 3.
3 little bats were trying to behave
They hung upside down from their feet in a cave
From their cave perch, they looked down at the floor,
A new bat joined the game, and then there were 4.
4 little bats were trying to behave.
They hung upside down from their feet in a cave.
One little bat zoomed inside and did a dive.
He stayed to take a rest, and with him there were 5.
Counts up from one to five instead of down; hang arms upside down for each bat.
Ten Little…
Original Author: Unknown
10 ghosts – say boo
10 cats – say meow!
10 witches – say Yahaahaahaaa
10 owls – say whooooooo
etc.
Ten fingers up, then the sound; let the class invent the next creature.
Halloween action and dance songs
Standing-up songs for the ten minutes before a costume parade, or any morning the class arrives with too much energy. Several are circle games with the directions written in. The monster ones pair well with our monster songs for kids if you run a monster week.
Halloween Hokey Pokey
Original Author: Unknown
You put your scary face in
You put your scary face out
You put your scary face in
And you shake it all about
You say “trick or treat”
And you turn yourself around
that’s what it’s all about
Standing circle; add ‘monster claw’ and ‘pumpkin belly’ verses.
If Your a Monster
Original Author: Unknown
If you’re a monster and you know it, wave your arms.
If you’re a monster and you know it, wave your arms.
If you’re a monster and you know it,
then your arms will surely show it.
If you’re a monster and you know it, wave your arms.
(Children can suggest other verses show your claws, gnash your teeth, stomp your feet.)
If You’re Happy tune with monster verses; freeze between verses to burn energy before a parade.
The Monsters are so Loud
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”
The monsters stomp around the house,
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The monsters stomp around the house,
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The monsters stomp around the house,
Their brothers and sisters send them out
And they stomp some more outside around the house.
The monsters yell around the house,
Eeeeeeh! Eeeeeeh!
The monsters yell around the house,
Eeeeeeh! Eeeeeeh!
The monsters yell around the house,
Their brothers and sisters send them out
And they yell some more outside around the house.
A stomp-and-yell song; use it outside or in the gym, not before nap.
What Do Monsters Do?
Original Author: Unknown
What do monsters do?
They stretch and touch their toes.
What do monsters do?
They comb their purple hair.
What do monsters do?
They stick out their green tongues.
What do monsters do?
They brush their teeth with a broom.
What do monsters do?
They rub their yellow eyes.
What do monsters do?
They wiggle their orange ears.
Boy, am I glad that I’m not a monster!
Call-and-response; act out each line and end with a big ‘I’m glad I’m not a monster’.
Horns & Fangs
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Head and Shoulders”
Horns and fangs,
knees and claws,
knees and claws.
Horns and fangs,
knees and claws.
Eyes and ears and tail and paws.
Head and Shoulders tune; touch each body part, then go faster.
Did You Ever See A Goblin?
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Did you ever see a Lassie?”
Did you ever see a goblin, a goblin, a goblin?
Did you ever see a goblin, stomp this way or that?
Stomp this way or that way,
Or this way or that way,
Did you ever see a goblin Stomp this way or that?
Additional Verses….
Did you ever see a fairy…
Dance this way or that?
Did you ever see an old witch…
Fly this way or that?
Did you ever see a black cat…
Pounce this way or that
Did you ever see a night owl…
Sleep this way or that?
Did you ever see a spider…
Crawl this way or that?
Did you ever see a scarecrow…
Lean this way or that?
Did you ever see a pumpkin….
Roll this way or that?
A movement song with eight creature verses; each one gives a different way to move.
One Little Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
One little pumpkin rolled round and round
Rolled round & round, rolled round & round
One little pumpkin rolled round and round
For this is Halloween.
2. Two little goblins hopped up & down
3. Three little skeletons walked down a street
4. Four little witches flying thru the air.
Movement verses: roll, hop, walk, fly; let children add a fifth creature.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Original Author: Unknown
Pumpkin, pumpkin
Sitting on a wall (have children sit down)
Pumpkin, pumpkin
Tip and fall (have children tip over)
Pumpkin, pumpkin
Rolling down the street (child rolls on floor)
Pumpkin, pumpkin
Trick or treat!!!!
The same chant as Pumpkin, Pumpkin in the pumpkin section, with the movements written in; do it on a mat so the roll is safe.
Spooky Skeleton
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Mulberry Bush”
1 Spooky skeleton jumping up & down, jumping up & down, jumping
up & down (hold 1 finger up to jump)
1 Spooking skeleton jumping up *& down,
FOR THIS IS HALLOWEEN!
2 little witches – zooming thru the air . . . .
(make 2 witches flying)
3 black cats – walking on the fence . . .
4 silly scarecrows – waving in the wind . . . .
5 trick or treaters – knocking at your door . . .
FOR THIS IS HALLOWEEN
TRICK OR TREAT! (The children really like yelling this at the end)
Counts one to five with a motion per verse; the class shouts TRICK OR TREAT at the end.
The Goblin In The Dark
Original Author: Unknown
Sing to: “Farmer in the Dell.”
The goblin in the dark, The goblin in the dark,
Hi, Ho it’s Halloween, the goblin in the dark!
The goblin takes the ghost, The goblin takes the ghost,
Hi, Ho it’s Halloween, the goblin takes the ghost!
The ghost takes the witch, The ghost takes the witch,
Hi, Ho it’s Halloween, the ghost takes the witch!
The witch takes the cat, The witch takes the cat,
Hi, Ho it’s Halloween, the witch takes the cat!
The cat takes the bat, The cat takes the bat,
Hi, Ho it’s Halloween, the cat takes the bat!
The bat stands alone, The bat stands alone,
Hi, Ho on Halloween, the bat stands alone!
A circle game like Farmer in the Dell: the goblin picks a ghost, the ghost picks a witch, and the bat ends up alone in the middle.
The Pumpkin in the Patch
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Farmer in the Dell”
The pumpkin in the patch, the pumpkin in the patch,
Hi Ho on Halloween, the pumpkin in the patch.
The pumpkin calls a witch, the pumpkin calls a witch, Hi Ho on
Halloween, the pumpkin calls a witch. (The pumpkin has now chosen a witch
and the two walk around the circle, holding hands as the song continues)
The witch calls a bat, the witch calls a bat, Hi Ho on Halloween, the
witch calls a bat. (The bat joins the pumpkin & witch and now the 3
march around the circle as we sing.)
The bat calls a ghost, the bat calls a ghost, Hi Ho on Halloween, the
bat calls a ghost. (Now the 4 are walking together as we sing…)
The ghost scares us all. (Ghost child says BOO!)
The ghost scares us all, Hi Ho on Halloween, The ghost scares us all.
We all scare the ghost. (Everyone says boo to the ghost.)
We all scare the ghost, Hi Ho on Halloween, we all scare the ghost.
A circle game for fours and fives with the directions written in; it ends with everyone saying boo to the ghost.
The Witch Rides tonight
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Farmer In The Dell”
The witch rides tonight
The witch rides tonight
Heigh-ho, it’s Halloween
The witch rides tonight!
The witch takes a cat…
The cat takes a bat…
The bat takes a spider…
The spider takes a goblin…
The goblin takes a skeleton…
The skeleton takes a ghost…
The ghost scares them all…
A chain game: each child who is picked joins the line until the ghost scares them all.
Trick-or-treat and costume songs
Songs about costumes, knocking on doors and candy. Two of them, Halloween Song and I Am A Trick Or Treater, teach the safety rules, which is worth a verse or two in the last week of October.
Halloween is Here
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Farmer in the Dell”
Oh, Halloween is here!
Oh, Halloween is here!
With costumes on we’ll walk around
We’ll knock on doors all over town,
When Halloween is here!
Sing it while the costume parade line walks; the knocking line is a cue to knock on the wall.
Pumpkin time
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: ” Mary had a little lamb”
Pumpkin time is here again,
Time to play trick or Treat.
Pumpkin time is here again,
Our Spooky friends we’ll meet.
See the costumes we have on,
Monsters, ghosts, goblins too.
See the costumes we have on,
Hear us all shout “BOO!”
A costume-day song; children point to their own costume on ‘see the costumes we have on’.
Halloween
Original Author: Unknown
Here’s a witch with a tall, tall hat. (hands pointed over hat)
Two big eyes on a black, black, cat. (Hands around eyes)
Jack O Lanterns in a row (make circles in front of you)
Funny Clowns are laughing. Ho, Ho, Ho. (hold stomach)
Bunny’s ears flopping up and down
Fairy Queen wears a fairy crown
Gypsy plays a tambourine (clap hands tougher)
Cowboy twirls a rope
It’s Halloween!
A costume fingerplay with a motion for each character; use it the day children talk about what they will be.
Trick or Treat
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “Loopty Lou”
Here we go trick-or-treat, here we go trick-or-treat,
Here we come down the street, all on a Halloween Night.
I sneak up on the porch,
I knock right on the door.
I fill my sack with lots of treats, and dash away for more.
(Repeat)
Walk in place and knock on the floor; a good rehearsal for children who have never trick-or-treated.
Knock, Knock
Original Author Unknown
Knock, knock, knock sounds like more
Trick or treaters at my door.
I open the door and what do I see?
Two green _____________smiling at me!
Knock, knock, knock, sounds like more
Trick or treaters at my door
I open the door and what do I see?
A great big _____________smiling at me!
Knock, knock, knock sounds like more
Trick or treaters at my door
I open the door, and what do I see?
A tiny, tiny ________smiling at me?
Other possible endings:
An ugly old ____________smiling at me!
A funny ___________smiling at me!
Three orange _________smiling at me!
A big white ________smiling at me!
Ten little __________smiling at me!
Note: it usually takes a little while for the children to “catch on” to filling in the blanks.
Fill-in-the-blank rhyme; knock on the floor three times and let a child pick the creature.
Trick or Treating
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Are You Sleeping?”
Trick or treating, trick or treating.
BOO BOO BOO
BOO BOO BOO
Trick or treating, trick or treating.
I scare you I scare you
Loud and fast, and the class will shout the BOOs; use it before outside time, not before rest.
Pumpkin Bells
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Jingle Bells”
Dashing through the streets
In our costumes bright as day!
To each house we go
Laughing all the way!
Halloween is here
Making spirits bright!
What fun it is to trick – or – treat
And sing pumpkin carols tonight!
Chorus:
Oh, Pumpkin bells
Pumpkin bells
Ringing loud and clear!
Oh what fun Great Pumpkin brings when Halloween is hear!
Oh!
Pumpkin bells
Pumpkin bells
Ringing loud and clear!
Oh what fun Great Pumpkin brings when Halloween is hear!
Jingle Bells tune, which the class already knows; add shaker bells on the chorus.
Pumpkin Wonderland
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Winter’s Wonderland”
Screech owls hoot,
are you list’nin?
Beneath the moon,
all is glist’nin –
A real scary sight, we’re happy tonight,
Waitin’ in a pumpkin wonderland!
In the patch, we’re watching for Great Pumpkin,
We’ve been waiting for this night all year,
For we’ve tried to be nice to everybody
And to grow a pumpkin patch that is sincere!
Later on, while we’re eating
What we got trick-or-treating,
We’ll share all our sacks
Of Halloween snacks,
Waitin’ in a pumpkin wonderland!
Winter Wonderland tune for fours and fives; the second verse is long, so teach the first on its own at first.
Halloween Song
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “I Love to Go A Wandering”
I love to go trick or treating
on Halloween night.
And as I go I always know
the safety rules for me!
Hal-lo-ween, Hal-lo-ween, Hal-lo-ween,
Hal-lo-weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen,
Hal-lo-ween, Hal-lo-ween,
Halloween is lots of fun.
(Hal-lo-weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen should be sung like a witch)
I know I must go with an adult
and wear light colored clothes.
My parents always check my bag
before I begin to eat.
(Chorus)
A safety song; sing the Hal-lo-ween chorus in a witch voice, as the note says.
I Am A Trick Or Treater
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Twinkle, Twinkle”
I am a trick or treater set to go
Here is my flashlight I’ll walk slow
I always say thank you for my treats
And I never run across the street!
A safety song on Twinkle Twinkle; hold a pretend flashlight and walk slowly.
Friendly ghosts, bats, cats and monsters
Ghosts, bats, cats and monsters, all played for laughs. The ghosts here say Boo and then giggle, tickle your toes or get scared themselves. Fine for most threes once they have heard them a couple of times.
Friendly Ghost
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacque”
I’m a friendly Ghost, I’m a friendly Ghost,
Watch me fly, watch me fly,
I can fly right through the air
See how all the people stare.
Way up high in the sky
Arms out and fly around the circle; a gentle ghost song for the youngest group.
Little Ghost
Original Author: Unknown
Little ghost, little ghost, flying through the air.
Little ghost, little ghost, tickling my hair.
Little ghost, little ghost, flying way down low.
Little ghost, little ghost, tickling my toe.
Little ghost, little ghost, circling all around.
Little ghost, little ghost, please sit down.
A settle-down song: wiggle fingers through the air, then ‘please sit down’ lands everyone on the rug.
This Old Ghost
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “This Old Man”
This old ghost, he played one,
he played peek-a-boo on the run.
With a boo! boo! boo! and a clap, clap, snap.
This old ghost is a friendly chap.
This old ghost, he played two.
He played peek-a-boo in a shoe.
With a boo! boo! boo! and a clap, clap, snap.
This old ghost is a friendly chap.
This old ghost, he played three.
He played peek-a-boo behind a tree.
With a boo! boo! boo! and a clap, clap, snap.
This old ghost is a friendly chap.
This Old Man tune with a clap, clap, snap; the ghost is friendly by name.
Halloween Ghost
Original Author: Unknown
There once was a ghost, (extend hand and wiggle fingers)
Who lived in a cave. (form hollow with palm for “cave”)
She scared all the people (point to children)
And the animals away.
She said “Boo” to a fox, (point)
She said “Boo” to a bee, (point)
She said “Boo” to a bear, (nod head “yes”)
She said “Boo” to me! (point at self)
Well, she scared that fox, (nod head “yes”)
And she scared that bee. (nod head “yes”)
She scared that bear, (nod head “yes”)
But she didn’t scare me! (shake head “no”)
A fingerplay with the motions written in; the ending, ‘she didn’t scare me’, is the point for anxious children.
Eight Giggling Ghosts
Original Author: Unknown
Eight giggling ghosts,
Like to give you a fright,
When they come out to play,
On Halloween night.
One ghosts laughs,
And one ghost giggles;
One ghost ha-ha’s,
And one hoots and wiggles.
One ghost cackles,
And one ghost roars;
One ghost guffaws,
And one rolls on the floor.
Eight giggling ghosts,
Aren’t much of a fright.
When they come out to play,
On a Halloween night!
Act out each laugh; ‘aren’t much of a fright’ makes this one fine for younger children.
Three Little Ghostesses
Original Author: Unknown
Three little ghostesses
Sitting on postesses
Eating buttered toastesses
Greasing their fistesses
Up to their wristesses
Oh what beastesses
To make such feastesses
A tongue-twister rhyme; fives love the silly ‘esses’ endings.
Six Little Ghosts That I Once Knew
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Six little ducks”
Six little ghosts that I once knew,
Spooky ones, kooky ones, shy ones too.
But the one little ghost had a special job to do,
He led the others with a Boo! Boo! Boo!
Boo! Boo! Boo!
Boo! Boo! Boo!
He led the others with a Boo! Boo! Boo!
Down to the haunted house they flew,
In and out, round about, through and through,
But the one little ghost had a special job to do,
He led the others with a Boo! Boo! Boo!
Boo! Boo! Boo!
Boo! Boo! Boo!
He led the others with a Boo! Boo! Boo!
Six Little Ducks tune; one child leads the others around the room on the Boo, Boo, Boo.
The Haunted House
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Wheels On The Bus”
The ghost in the house goes “Boo! Boo! Boo!”
“Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo!”
The ghost in the house goes “Boo! Boo! Boo!”
On Halloween.
The mice in the house go “Squeak, squeak, squeak.”
“Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak.”
The mice in the house go “Squeak, squeak, squeak.”
On Halloween.
The cats in the house go “Meow, meow, meow.”
“Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow”.
The cats in the house go “Meow, meow, meow.”
On Halloween.
Wheels on the Bus tune with ghost, mice and cat sounds; more silly than spooky.
The Ghost Fingerplay
Original Author: Unknown
I saw a ghost (fingers circle eyes)
He saw me too (point to yourself)
I waved at him (wave your hand)
But he said, “BOO!” (try to scare person next to you)
Four lines with the motions written in; the Boo goes to a neighbor, so use inside voices with threes.
Hoo!
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Farmer in the Dell”
The owl goes Hoo
The owl goes Hoo
Hi ho on Halloween the owl goes Hoo
The ghost goes Boo
The ghost goes Boo
Hi ho on Halloween the ghost goes Boo
(Can make up other verses)
Owl and ghost sounds; ask the class what the cat and the bat say and add verses.
Black Cat
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
We saw a black cat, black cat, black cat.
We saw a black cat on Halloween.
He was stretching his paws, his paws, his paws.
He was stretching his paws on Halloween.
Stretch like a cat on the second verse; short and calm enough for threes.
Three Black Cats
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Three Blind Mice”
Three Black cats, three black cats,
in black hats, in black hats.
They all jumped into the Halloween brew,
they teased the ghosts and the goblins too.
Did you ever hear such a hullabaloo
on Halloween
Three Blind Mice tune; jump on ‘jumped into the brew’.
Bat, Bat, Come Under My Hat
Original Author: Unknown
Bat, bat, come under my hat
For here’s a slice of bacon
When I bake, I’ll give you a cake
If I am not mistaken
A traditional nursery rhyme with no spooky content; hold a pretend hat over your head.
You Are My Monster
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “You Are My Sunshine”
You are my monster,
My only monster.
You make me happy,
When I am sad.
You never know dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take
My monster away!
A sweet lullaby-style song; hug a stuffed monster while you sing.
Pumpkin Man
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Muffin Man”
Have you seen the pumpkin man,
The pumpkin man, the pumpkin man,
Have you seen the pumpkin man,
Who lives in pumpkin patch?
Have you seen the old black witch,
The old black witch, the old black witch,
Have you seen the old black witch,
Who lives in the haunted house?
Have you seen the scary ghost,
The scary ghost, the scary ghost,
Have you seen the scary ghost,
Who lives in the old ghost town?
Muffin Man tune; the witch and ghost verses are mild, but leave them off for young threes.
Spooky Halloween songs for older preschoolers
The songs in this last group talk about frights, spells and haunted houses. They are still preschool songs, but read the room. Best for fours and fives, in the final week, in daylight, with a pumpkin song straight after.
Sing a Song of Halloween
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Sing a Song of Sixpence”
Sing a song of Halloween
What a Scary night,
Ghosts and bats and big black cats,
Give us all a fright
Shinning jolly Jack-O-Lanterns
Fill our hearts with fun,
But if the black cat comes along
We’ll all run!
For fours and fives; the ‘we’ll all run’ line works as a run-in-place burst.
Haunted House
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Pop Goes the Weasel”
All around the haunted House,
The bat chased the goblin.
The ghost floated overhead
Scat! Went the black cat
Pop Goes the Weasel tune with a Scat! at the end; the cat scaring the ghost keeps it silly.
Jack-O-Lantern
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Are You Sleeping?”
Jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern,
Halloween, Halloween.
See the witches flying,
Hear the wind a sighing,
Oooooo, Oooooo.
Whisper the Oooooo for the wind; a quiet song that works after the loud ones.
Here Comes Halloween
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Here comes Santa Claus”
Here comes Halloween
Here comes Halloween
Black cats on the prowl
Ghosts to scare you
Goblins dare you
When you turn around
Witches flying over rooftops
Watching all in view
You’d better hide – so they won’ get
To cast a spell on you
Spookier lyrics, with a spell cast on you; save it for fives who like a shiver.
Moans, Groans and Skeleton Bones
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Pop goes the Weasel”
Moans and groans and skeleton bones,
It’s Halloween tonight,
Ssssh! I fear a ghost is near,
Boo! what a fright!
Up the street we’ll trick or treat
And dance beneath the moonlight!
We’ll beware if there’s a scare,
Boo! what a fright!
Witches, cats and flapping bats
Are “boo”-tiful tonight.
Never fear if goblins appear,
Boo! what a fright!
Up the street we’ll trick or treat
And dance beneath the moonlight!
We’ll beware if there’s a scare,
Boo! What a fright!
Spooky in words, silly in delivery; whisper the Ssssh and shout the Boo.
Witches Come on Halloween
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Camptown Races”
Witches come on Halloween,
Heh-heh, heh, heh
Watch out now or you might scream
Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh!
Pumpkins shining bright,
with their candlelight.
Ghosts and Goblins coming too,
Watching out for you – BOO!!!
Camptown Races tune with a cackle; fives will want the BOO loud, so agree on a volume first.
Walk in the Dark
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Pop Goes the Weasel”
Sometimes I like to walk in the dark
I like to shout and scream.
I walk up behind somebody I know
BOO its Halloween
Short and a bit spooky; sneak in place and Boo on the last line.
Five Batty Bats
Original Author: Unknown
Five batty bats
Were hanging ‘neath the moon.
“Quiet!” said the first.
“The witch is coming soon.”
“She’s green,” said the second,
“With a purple pointy nose.”
“Black boots,” said the third,
“Cover up her ugly toes.”
“Her broom,” said the fourth,
“Can scratch you – that I know!”
“I’m scared,” said the fifth.
“I think wed better go.”
Five batty bats
Escaped into the night.
“Dear me,” said the witch.
“That’s a scary sight!”
The witch here is a little scary; best for fives, with the fifth bat’s ‘I’m scared’ played for laughs.
There was an Old Woman
Original Author: Unknown
There was an old woman all skin and bones, oo,oo,oo,oo.
She lived down by the old graveyard, oo, oo, oo, oo.
One night she thought she’d take a walk, oo,oo,oo,oo.
She saw the bone a-layin’ around, oo, oo,oo,oo.
She went to the closet to get a broom, oo,oo,oo,oo,
She opened the door and BOO!
Spooky, for older preschoolers; whisper the oo-oo-oo and let the children shout the final BOO.
13 Nights of Halloween
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “12 days of Christmas”
On the first night of Halloween my goblin gave to me….
A spooky owl in a gnarled tree.
On the second night of Halloween my goblin gave to me….
Two hairy toads and a spooky owl in a gnarled tree.
On the third night of Halloween my goblin gave to me….
Three Jack-o-lantern’s, two hairy toads and a spooky owl in a gnarled tree.
(continue)
Fourth: Four cackling witches.
Fifth: Five pounds of worms!!!!!
Sixth: Six spiders spinning
Seventh: Seven creeping lizards
Eighth: Eight werewolves howling.
Ninth: Nine bats a flying
Tenth: Ten skeletons rattling
Eleventh: Eleven black cats hissing
Twelfth: Twelve vampires nibbling
Thirteenth: Thirteen Ghosts a booing
A long cumulative song for older fives; pick three or four verses rather than all thirteen.
Halloween song FAQ
What Halloween songs are appropriate for preschoolers?
Songs with a familiar tune, a repeated line and a motion the children can copy. For three-year-olds, stick with pumpkin songs, Five Little Pumpkins and the gentle Halloween songs in the second group above. Fours and fives can handle the friendly ghost songs and, late in the month, the spooky ones. Skip anything where the fright is aimed at the child and played straight; a Boo the children shout themselves is fine.
What do I do if a family doesn’t celebrate Halloween?
Ask early in October so you are not improvising on party day. Run a fall-and-pumpkin theme next to the Halloween one so there is always a song that child can join, and give them a role such as picking the next song or holding the pumpkin picture. Never send a child out of the room for a song; swap the song instead.
How do I stop Halloween songs frightening young children?
Choose songs where the scary character turns out to be silly or friendly, and let the children make the Boo rather than making it at them. Keep the lights up, sing in a normal voice, and skip masks while singing. If a child is bothered, offer a job or a lap without comment, and follow with a pumpkin song.
What songs work for a costume parade?
Steady walking songs: Halloween is Here, Trick or Treat on Loopty Lou and Pumpkin Bells all march well. Before the parade, burn energy with Halloween Hokey Pokey or If You’re a Monster and a hard freeze at the end. Sing the parade song two or three times in the days before so the children know it when the audience arrives.
How do I use Five Little Pumpkins to teach counting?
Hold up five fingers and point to one per pumpkin as it speaks. Before the wind blows, ask how many pumpkins there are, then clap and roll your arms as they disappear. Repeat with the countdown versions, Five Little Witches and Five Little Monsters, folding one finger down each verse and asking how many are left.
When should I start singing Halloween songs in October?
Start pumpkin songs in the first week, since they fit any fall theme. Add the gentle Halloween songs in the second week and the trick-or-treat songs in the third, when children start talking about costumes. Save the spooky songs for the final week, and keep the pumpkin songs going into November, because pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving song too.
More seasonal songs
Halloween ends on the 31st and the next morning the class wants turkey songs. Our Thanksgiving songs for preschool carry the same pumpkins straight into November. For the songs that hold the rest of the day together, from hello to clean-up to goodbye, see our circle time songs.