Five Easy, Fun and Original Halloween Costumes for Toddlers or Young Children

This has been a tough year. Everyone has less money to spend. In fact, according to Tracy Mullin, President and CEO of the National Retail foundation, “The economy has caught up to Halloween this year”. Phil Rist, Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at BIGresearch, agrees saying “The overriding theme for Americans’ Halloween celebrations this year will be, ‘How creative can I be, and how itsy-bitsy can I spend? ‘” (“As Economy Impacts Halloween, Americans Win Creative“, National Retail Federation, Kathy Grannis, September 29, 2009)

So if you are one of the many Americans sweating the thought of creating an endearing Halloween costume for your toddling tot or strolling youngster with only $20.00 or so to spend, hang on, there is hope! You don’t have to get a case of the Halloween jitters or succumb to “creative block”. Furthermore, there’s no need to try and transform into one part Martha Stewart craft goddess, one allotment Ellen DeGeneres comedian and one part do-it-yourself TV host. With just a few bits and pieces from the craft store and a couple of inexpensive clothes, any parent can create one of the five imaginative costumes listed below without breaking the bank.

No princesses, witches, Spiderman, pirates, or pumpkins here. Each costume described below is economical and unique. These costumes are intended to make your child stand out from the crowd. Alas, for those readers still considering a princess costume, keep in mind that with 4.5 million runt princesses expected to deluge the streets on Halloween, it may be tough to spot your little blueblood. Expect the same problem if you resolve on a witch costume, Spiderman get up, or a quick pirate or pumpkin ensemble. The National Retail Federation has determined that for Halloween 2009 there will be approximately two million witches, 1.3 million Spiderman, and a million pirates, pumpkins and vampires hitting the Trick or Treat trail. (“Vampires Move Up Top Costumes List; Nurses, Politicians Drop Off“, National Retail Federation, Kathy Grannis, October 1 2009.)

So instead of racking your brain or settling for a ho-hum but popular alternative, read on, and try one of the five easy, comfortable, splendid, and less costumes listed below.

Killer Bumble Bee
Time: Approximately 3 to 4 hours

• White Pajamas or Yellow Pajamas
• Yellow Dye / Large Soup Pot / Salt
• Dryer
• Black Duct Tape / scissors
• Childs hair band
• Hot glue gun / glue
• Two plastic or metal springs
• Two foam balls
• One foam cone
• Yellow paint or marker
• Black paint or marker

If you can’t find yellow pajamas or a yellow shirt and pants, take some inexpensive white ones and dye them yellow in the kitchen using a broad soup pot. Just follow the directions on the box and make sure you have lots of extra salt on hand before you begin. (The salt makes the dye adhere to the fabric quicker and more evenly so don’t skip it.) Let dry. Afterward iron them nice and flat. Once the yellow pajamas (or shirt and pants) are ironed, it’s time to make some stripes. I find using black duct tape is the easiest. Have your child put them on and start wrapping them up with tape. (Believe me, they will find this hilarious so make sure to schedule some time to giggle along with them.) Once that’s done, put them aside and start working on the antenna and stinger. First paint the headband black and the foam balls and foam cone yellow. Set them aside. Once they’re dry, using the glue gun assign the stinger to the encourage of the costume. ( I direct putting it a bit high, say the lower back, so they can sit down comfortably.) Now using the glue gun and dark duct tape, attach one end of each spring to the head band. After the springs are completely attached, slowly work the end of the spring into the foam ball. To be safe, believe dabbing a drop of hot glue on the foam ball and into the hole where it’s attached to the spring – just to give it some extra support. There you go! Killer bee!

Uber-hip Martian Baby
Time: Approximately 3 to 4 hours

• White or Green Pajamas
• Green Dye / Large Soup Pot / Salt
• Dryer
• Childs Head Band
• Hot Glue Gun / Glue
• Two plastic or Metal Springs
• Two Foam Balls
• Silver duct tape / scissors
• Aluminum Foil
• Cheap black sunglasses

If you can’t catch green pajamas or a green shirt and pants, bewitch some inexpensive white ones and dye them green in the kitchen using a large soup pot. Just follow the directions on the box and make sure you have lots of extra salt on hand before you begin. (The salt makes the dye adhere to the fabric quicker and more evenly so don’t skip it.) Let dry. Afterward, iron them nice and flat. Once that’s done, put them aside and start working on the antenna. Wrap the foam balls in aluminum foil. Position them aside. Using the glue gun and silver duct tape, achieve one end of each spring to the head band. After the springs are completely attached, wrap the entire head band in aluminum foil (to match the foam balls). Once done, attach the foam balls to the springs. Work the end of the spring through the foil and into the foam ball. To be obedient, mediate dabbing a drop of hot glue around the spring and into the hole where the spring is inserted into the foam ball – just to give it some extra support. There you go! Hip Martian Baby!

Crotchety Old Lady * (a la “Benjamin Button”)
Time: Approximately 2 hours

• Baby powder, rubber band, hair pins
• Old dress – preferably black
• Fake glasses
• Small dime store hat
• Cane or walking stick
• Walk hunched over
• Inexpensive bifocals
• Brown Stick Pencil or Eyebrow pencil (for drawing in wrinkles)

You can make the cane or you can bewitch a used one at Goodwill or the dollar store. You can substitute a pole (walking stick) as well – it’s easy to paint either one black. To get your little girl ready, powder her hair until it’s nice and white and, if it’s long enough, pin it into a bun at the back of her head and hair spray into place. Breeze her into the dress. Use the scissors to shorten the front if it’s too long so she doesn’t trip while walking. Then draw on some nice smile lines (wrinkles) and worry lines on her forehead using the brown stick pencil. Pin the hat on her head so that it’s tipped forward on her face…unbiased above her forehead. Slip the bifocals on to the end of her nose (so she can gape over them) and hand her the walking stick or cane. Now this costume is all about “getting into character” so spend some time showing her how to walk and stand using the cane and teach her some of your popular old time expressions. Believe me, the more in character she is, the more fun it will be for her and you.

* This works well for little boys too. All you need to do is substitute sad pants, a bow tie, some suspenders, a white shirt and a dime store fedora for the dress and puny dime store hat.

Viking
Time: Approximately 2 hours

• Straw basket that fits on top of your little one’s head
• Cotton balls
• Old nylon stocking
• Fake fur (a couple of yards depending on your child’s size)
• Big stick from backyard or Pool Worm
• 2 packages of Aluminum foil
• Glue gun/ glue / scissors

This one is the easiest of all. Take a small straw basket of any kind and cover it with the nylon stocking. Don’t worry about a few snags or rips. The nylon is just to hold the cotton balls – it won’t be seen. Stuff the cotton balls around the inner rim of the basket (underneath the stocking) so it’s comfortable to wear. Tuck the left over stocking up inside the top of the basket. This is the beginning of the warrior helmet! Now occupy some aluminum foil and fashion it into a horn. Make two. Make them as large or as small as you want. Now pick up the “helmet” and rip two holes in the nylon where you want the horns to attach to the basket. Hot glue the horns on to the basket. Region aside and allow to dry. Grab your giant stick from the back yard. The larger the better. (If you are worried about safety, you can always substitute a pool “worm”. The kind kids use to play in the pool.) Completely cover in aluminum foil. Set aside. Pick up the helmet with the horns attached and cover the entire thing in aluminum foil. Tuck edges of the foil under the rim. Station aside. You’re all done. Halloween night wrap the fur around your child’s shoulder’s like a cape – safety pin into place (trim if necessary). Pop his helmet on to his head and hand him his war stick. Now he’s ready to conquer the neighborhood!

Box of Raisins
Time: Approximately 3 to 4 hours

• Cardboard box large enough to fit over your tiny ones torso
• Construction Paper – 14 sheets of yellow
• Hot glue gun / glue / scissors
• Red Paint
• Black Magic Marker (Thick)
• Scissors or knife

Hold the cardboard box up to your child’s back. Determine where the head and arm holes should be located. Use scissors to cut holes – have your toddler slip on the box a few times to make sure you have made the holes big enough for the box to be comfortable. And, to be safe, make sure the bottom of the box doesn’t extend past the knees. Paint the entire box red. Set aside and let dry. As it dries begin creating a sun to glue to the front of the box. You want the sun and the sun’s rays to seize up the majority of the front of the box. The best version I’ve seen had the sun positioned so it looked like a sunrise at the bottom of the box with the rays extending from the bottom to the top of the box. (I wouldn’t worry about trying to make the box gawk like the store bought stamp version – that’s just too powerful concern. And besides, these are tough times. People will probably appreciate the “generic” raisin box costume more.) Lop the yellow construction paper so it creates the sun pattern. Glue to the front of the box. Using a black marker, write “RAISINS” or “SUN DRIED RAISINS” on the front of the box. You can write it in big block letters inside the sun or across the top. And there you go – a cute little healthy snack of a trick-or-treater!

And, don’t forget to share the experience! These costumes are so easy to design, children of all ages can join the fun by helping out with one or two steps. After all, they’re the ones enraged about dressing up for Halloween. Your enjoyment will arrive from standing back in the shadows, watching them run from door to door trick-or-treating, and smiling from ear-to-ear as your fingers tap away on your wallet.