Songs for kids
Top 25 songs for a kids' party
Songs for a birthday or classroom party: a few instant dance songs, a few sing-alongs and a few that adults will not mind hearing again.
Compiled Oct 2026 from public chart history (Spotify and YouTube kids and family charts, Billboard Kid Digital Song Sales and Hot 100, Kidz Bop and soundtrack streaming through 2025/2026) and from the songs' release records. Order is an editor's ranking of lasting popularity with kids, not a single chart's numbers. Titles, artists and years should be spot-checked against the artist's page before use. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Happy
Pharrell Williams (Despicable Me 2) · 2013 · Ages 2-13
A clap-along No. 1 hit from Despicable Me 2; clean and bright.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Can't Stop the Feeling!
Justin Timberlake (Trolls) · 2016 · Ages 3-13
A dance-floor No. 1 of 2016 written for Trolls.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Shake It Off
Taylor Swift · 2014 · Ages 5-13
A clean, upbeat No. 1 about ignoring critics.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Uptown Funk
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars · 2014 · Ages 8-13
A funk dance floor song, a No. 1 for 14 weeks in the US.
Watch for: A few lines have mild language; the radio edit is common.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Dynamite
BTS · 2020 · Ages 6-13
BTS's first all-English single and first US No. 1.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Levitating
Dua Lipa · 2020 · Ages 7-13
A disco-pop hit that was one of the most streamed songs of 2021.
Watch for: Clean version recommended.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Golden
HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters) · 2025 · Ages 5-13
The hit from Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, a No. 1 US pop song in 2025 that kids sing in the car; big chorus, easy to learn.
Watch for: Cartoon demon-fighting story around it; the song itself is clean.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
We Don't Talk About Bruno
Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo and cast (Encanto) · 2021 · Ages 5-13
A No. 1 US hit of 2022 with five singers and one running gag; most kids learn the whole thing.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Cha Cha Slide
DJ Casper · 2000 · Ages 4-13
A step-by-step instruction dance song, a school-dance staple.
Watch for: The original has a mild word or two; radio edit available.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Cupid Shuffle
Cupid · 2007 · Ages 4-13
A line dance with chants telling you what to do.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Y.M.C.A.
Village People · 1978 · Ages 3-13
The arm-letters dance staple.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Twist and Shout
The Beatles (cover of the Top Notes' 1961 song by Phil Medley and Bert Berns) · 1963 · Ages 3-13
Don't Stop Believin'
Journey · 1981 · Ages 6-13
A sing-along arena song.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Dancing Queen
ABBA · 1976 · Ages 4-13
A disco song about being young on the dance floor.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
September
Earth, Wind & Fire · 1978 · Ages 4-13
A funk party song.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Walking on Sunshine
Katrina and the Waves · 1985 · Ages 3-13
A bright, bouncy pop song.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Mr. Blue Sky
Electric Light Orchestra · 1977 · Ages 3-13
A sunny rock song with a long, playful middle.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Footloose
Kenny Loggins · 1984 · Ages 5-13
A dance song from the 1984 film.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper (song written by Robert Hazard) · 1983 · Ages 5-13
A bright 80s classic.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Shut Up and Dance
Walk the Moon · 2014 · Ages 7-13
A feel-good rock song for a school dance.
Watch for: The title can sound rude to little ears.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Everything Is Awesome!!!
Tegan and Sara feat. The Lonely Island (The Lego Movie) · 2014 · Ages 3-13
A relentless, silly cheer song that kids sing at school.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)
Los del RÃo · 1996 · Ages 3-13
The 1996 No. 1 dance hit.
Watch for: Original lyrics are about a girl who cheats; the dance is what kids know.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
The Chicken Dance
Werner Thomas (Der Ententanz) · 1957 · Ages 2-13
A beak-flap-and-clap party dance.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
Baby Shark Dance
Pinkfong · 2016 · Ages 1-6
The Korean-made video that became the most viewed on YouTube; short, repeating, and made for hand motions.
Watch for: Very repetitive; parents tend to tire of it before kids do.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
The Hokey Pokey
Traditional (modern versions 1940s) · 1940s · Ages 1-8
A put-your-left-foot-in dance that is the classic party game.
Buy: Apple Music · Spotify
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