Halloween Costumes for the Not-So Crafty and Creative

Halloween is just around the corner, and you have probably started to think about costume ideas for your kids. If your talents do not lie in the creative, sewing, or crafty department, you probably plan to purchase a costume. While this is fine and something we all do, your child can have a homemade costume without spending tons of money or time. I do not sew and am always looking for ideas for costumes that I can throw together without much work. I usually find ideas and useful items at the dollar store, garage sales and thrift stores.

Here are some easy and fairly inexpensive costume ideas that you can simply put together without any sewing involved.

Sports Theme - Soccer player, baseball player, basketball player, football player, cheerleader, race car driver, gymnast, referee, and golfer are all easy costumes to put together. Use old uniforms from siblings or neighbors, check out the thrift store or garage sales, or simply transform their own clothes. Add accessories such as pompons, baton, soccer ball, mitt, basketball, whistle, golf club/ball, and water bottle as props to enhance the costume.

Career Theme - Your child can dress as a doctor, scientist, nurse, teacher, chef, CEO, construction worker, policeman, fireman or lawyer. Enlist your child's help in brainstorming ideas for their costume. A man's white dress shirt can act as a lab coat or doctor's jacket and an old suit from a thrift store can be used for a lawyer or businessman. Add some simple accessories that you find at the dollar store, garage sale, or thrift store and your child will have a working costume.

Animal Theme - A cat, tiger, dog, rabbit, and deer are a few easy to achieve costumes. Find some pictures of these animals and search your house for items that can be used. Dress in all black for a cat or panther, use a black headband and cardboard to make ears, and use mascara or face paint to make a black nose and whiskers. Find an orange or brown sweat outfit and use black permanent marker to draw black stripes to make a tiger. A rabbit can be dressed in all white with a large cotton tail and big ears made with a headband and cardboard.

Here are a few other costume ideas:

Magician - Use a black cape or black piece of material, top hat, and magic wand. A stuffed rabbit is a nice prop to add.

Dancer/Ballerina - Use an old dance costume and have them carry a small boom box playing music or streamers made with a stick and colored ribbon.

Bride/Princess - You can find a bridesmaids gown or fancy dress at a thrift store and either cut off the extra material using fancy scissors or pin up with safety pins. Use inexpensive netting glued to a headband for a veil and make a bouquet out of flowers from the dollar store. Make a crown by wrapping foil around a cardboard shaped crown and then glue sequins and glitter all over.

The ideas are endless and if you involve your child in the planning, gathering, and construction of the costume, it will be more meaningful to your trick-or-treater!