Last Minute Kids' Halloween Costume Ideas
Quick and Easy Homemade Halloween Outfits for Children
Oct 7, 2008
Sometimes children just can’t decide what to be on Halloween or parents run out of time to buy that ideal Halloween costume. Whatever the dilemma is, have no fear. Last minute Halloween costume ideas can be easily fashioned for kids with items that are readily available at home.
Use Old Clothes for Last Minute Halloween Costumes
Using some old clothes, parents can come up with some really fast and cheap Halloween costume ideas. Here are a few simple fun outfits to try this October 31st:
- PJ Party – Throw on a pair of warm pajamas, a simple knit cap, and some slippers and it’s an instant party! If a child has a favorite blanket or teddy bear, bring it along too.
- Nature Lover – With a green sweat suit one can easily blend in to the scenery. Quickly create a hedge costume by gluing leaves (either real or made out of construction paper) to the clothes. For a tree costume, use a brown sweat suit. Simply add a cap with leaves and branches (pipe cleaners work) and glue some leaves to the sleeves.
- Classic Princess – A fancy dress and some costume jewelry will do the trick for this outfit. Make a crown with cardboard and decorate it with beads, macaroni, glitter, or whatever else is on hand.
- Hobo – Boys and girls will delight in ripping up some old pants and staining a shirt for this easy costume. For an added feature, smear on some black face paint or make-up to give the appearance of dirt.
- Scuba Diver – Just when it was safe to stash away the beach gear, out it comes. A pair of swim goggles, a snorkel, and some flippers are really all that is needed for this idea. A black or grey sweat suit will complete the ensemble. Get fancier by creating scooba tanks out of oval shaped balloons, and head gear using a decorated paper bag.
Halloween Costumes with Household Items
Dig out some easy to find household objects and try these last minute Halloween costumes on for size.
- Ghost – It’s a classic because a ghost is one of the most beloved and simplest of all spooky Halloween creatures. It is also one of the most economical costumes ever designed. Simply cut eyeholes in an old sheet and put it on.
- Housewife – An apron, a plunger or feather duster, and an old handkerchief make an amusing outfit and can certainly be easily assembled in a couple of minutes.
- Weather Enthusiast – Dress up as a cloud by pasting some cotton balls or polyester fiberfill onto an old gray sweat suit. Add a bolt of lightning or two using sturdy yellow construction paper for a fun weather effect.
Halloween Costumes Using Cardboard Boxes
So many ideas can blossom from a simple cardboard box. Try creating these camera-friendly Halloween costumes.
- Calculator – A large rectangular box or a rectangle-shaped piece of cardboard with a thick string attached would be a great way to make this easy costume. Simply glue white paper onto one side of the box and use a black marker to add numbers and math symbols. Cut out armholes and a hole for the head. Numbers can be drawn on cheeks and foreheads with black face paint.
- Dice – Glue circles of black or dark colored felt onto all sides of a large square box. Cut out armholes and another hole for the head, similar to the calculator costume. For fuzzy dice, add some fiberfill to the outside of the box before attaching the dots.
- Crayon - Cut out a long, thin rectangle out of cardboard and add a triangle tip. Then decorate in the child's favorite color!
Take a little stress out of Halloween by assembling a last minute costume with a few ordinary household items, cardboard boxes, and/or some old clothes. The children will be happy and the costume making chore should be quick and easy. Even the wallet may be spared, at least until the next October holiday!
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