A Stress-Free Halloween Guide for Parents
October is here and that means spooky season is too! All of us here at Musical Bridges love Halloween and all of the fun that comes with it. How to add in seasonal and holiday fun to our Music Therapy sessions is always on our minds, Halloween has an abundance of fun songs and games to incorporate. Our team has created a few resources to help make Trick-or-Treating a treat along with a few more fun Halloween themed activities you can try out at home!
Trick-or-treating can feel overwhelming for some children, and even for parents. There are many elements that might make someone feel uncomfortable, such as wearing a costume, being around large groups of kids, encountering spooky decorations, or talking to unfamiliar people.
To help make Halloween a fun and positive experience, we’ve created a social story that introduces some of the common parts of trick-or-treating. This includes wearing a costume, seeing other children, ringing a doorbell, and saying "trick or treat."
Take some time to go through the story with your child before Halloween. Talking about what to expect and practicing ahead of time can help build comfort and confidence. With a little preparation, your kiddo can enjoy a safe and exciting Halloween night!
To help prepare kids for a fun and successful Halloween night, we’re using a spooky and catchy Halloween song that teaches the steps of trick-or-treating! The song goes through what to expect — from knocking on doors to spotting spooky costumes — while supporting expressive language, sequencing, and social skills.
🎶 “Knock, knock, knock, trick-or-treat!” 🎶
This fun chorus (and more) will be part of our sessions all October long, helping kids feel confident and prepared for Halloween.
Want to use it at home too? Send us a message and we’ll be happy to share the lyrics with you!
Our therapists have a cauldron full of Halloween-themed visuals, songs, books, and games, and one of our favorite activities is making Halloween Stew!
In this fun and flexible activity, we gather around the cauldron to stir up a spooky stew, adding silly ingredients one by one. With each new addition, the song grows, working on:
🧠 Sequencing
🗣️ Language skills
🙋 "Wh" questions
💪 Motor skills
😄 And, of course — having fun!
This activity can be done one-on-one or in a group, and it’s perfect for getting kids engaged while building communication and memory skills. Add in sounds, motions, and spooky voices to bring the ingredients to life!
Challenge time: At the end of the chant, ask your kiddo, “What did we put in our stew?” and see how many ingredients they can recall!
Let us know if you’d like to try Halloween Stew at home — we’re happy to share the materials!
🎶Ooh, ooh, ooh, let’s make Halloween stew.🎶
🎶Ooh, ooh, ooh, let’s stir our witches brew!🎶
Tips for Parents: Using Music & Stories to Prepare for Halloween
Repeat the Trick-or-Treat Song Often: Repetition builds confidence. Singing our trick-or-treating song regularly in the days leading up to Halloween can help your child learn the steps of the evening and feel more comfortable with the routine. Try singing it during playtime, in the car, or while getting dressed for the day!
Review the Social Story Together: Read through the social story multiple times before Halloween night. Pause to talk about the pictures, ask questions, or act out parts of the story. This supports language development, comprehension, and emotional readiness.
Practice the Sequence of Events: Use toys, visuals, or even dress-up to walk through the steps of trick-or-treating. Pair each step with the part of the song it relates to so your child can make clear connections between music, visuals, and real-life actions.
Plan for Calm Moments: Have a plan in place for breaks or quiet time during Halloween night. Bringing along headphones with calming music or planning a musical wind-down routine afterward can help your child transition more smoothly.
Whether you're preparing for trick-or-treating or simply looking for some festive fun, we at Musical Bridges wish you a safe, fun, and spooky season!
Enjoy everything this magical month has to offer — from sweet treats to silly costumes, and don’t forget to check out our specially curated Halloween playlist, filled with songs for both kids and adults to get everyone in the spirit!
If you’d like to learn more about music therapy for yourself, a family member, or a facility you work at, fill out our interest form below and we’ll be in touch soon.
From the Musical Bridges family to yours, Happy Halloween!
Playlist:
This is Halloween - Six Little Ghost - I Put a Spell on You - Ghostbusters - Thriller - Spooky Scary Skeletons - Five Little Pumpkins - Monster Mash - The Time Warp - Super Spooky Halloween Storm - Superstitious - Witch Doctor - Addams Family - I Spy: Kids Halloween Music - Friends on the Other Side - Trick or Treat - Calling all the Monsters - Midnight Magic Five Skeletons Riding on a Bus - Trick or Treat: Give Me Something Good to Eat