Arts & Entertainment
Do's and Don'ts of Homemade Halloween Costumes for Your Kids
Here's to going simple, creative and inexpensive this year.
"A soldier. No, an astronaut. No, a race-car driver."
"A princess. No, a fairy. No, Cinderella."
In the weeks leading up to Halloween night, Kids go back and forth on what they want to dress up as. Meanwhile, all Mom is thinking is "How much is this going to cost me?"
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Store-bought or purchased online, kids' costumes can cost a small fortune. If you want to add accessories, makeup or shoes, it gets even more pricey. How can we help our kids choose cool, creative costumes without having to smash open little Suzie's piggy bank? Here are a few do's and don'ts:
Do pass down costumes.
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If your son or daughter has older siblings or cousins, remember that you might still have costumes or pieces of costumes laying around. Grab a princess wig, a fairy wand and some heels from the Cinderella play-set and you have the makings for a new costume! Go through the items you have, lay them out and have your kids go "shopping."
Do not let you kids shop online for ideas.
When your 10-year-old sits down and starts browsing through Party City's costume site, she may see a costume she loves (for a measly $69.99). With some children, once they see that "perfect" costume, you will be hard pressed to have them rewind and think outside the box to a less costly, less detailed version of the same concept. Ask your kids to think of a few ideas on their own before exposing them to the pre-made, expensive costumes.
Do allow them to use their imaginations.
If your child tells you he or she wants to be something outlandish or that you think will be impossible to pull together, don't immediately squash their dreams. Allow some time between the moment they come up with the theme and when you make a final decision. That way that the two of you can think about them, see if you have any things in the house that will lend themselves to those themes, and see if any friends or family have a costume that will fit the bill.
Don't be afraid to make things.
A box and four paper plates painted and decorated make for a great race car. Two toilet paper tubes put together come in handy for homemade binoculars! For the younger kids, the process of painting their costume, or gluing things on, or spreading glitter glue all over it can really help them take ownership of the project. They will love it almost no matter how it comes out. And you'll have a great set of photos you will have to show the prospective girlfriend or boyfriend when they are 16.
Do go shopping.
Even if you are using hand-me-downs, or second-hand costumes for the majority of your child's outfit, check out local second-hand stores for things to add to it to make it complete. Perhaps a hat, gloves, a baseball mit or cap would be just the thing. Make sure to check out Goodwill, www.freecycle.org and Savers. Target and Job Lot also have accessory items; some are pretty cheap.
Don't wait too long.
Time is really of the essence. If you are planning to go this less-expensive route, it will probably take a little more footwork and communication with your child. Things you can do today: go online, compare prices, gather ideas from your children and start looking for pieces.
Here is a list of Web sites that may provide some inspiration for your kids' costumes:
