Whether you’re planning to take your little ones trick or treating, school is asking them to dress up or your children are just wanting to get into the spirit of things Halloween costumes can be time consuming to create or expensive to purchase. So we’ve put together 5 easy, imaginative, ideas that are simple enough to achieve for even the least craft-handy amongst you. Better still, they’re so simple even the children can get involved in making their own costumes.
1. A Zombie. Torn up old clothes, messy hair and lots of make-up smeared around the face and voila! This costume is really simple and fun to make. Tearing up old clothes is easy for children of all ages and messy hair and faces are never all that difficult to achieve for young children at the best of times. For a creative touch, pick up some cheap face paints and smear them over the clothes too. Plenty of red, for that fresh from the feasting look!
2. Upside down man/woman. Cut a head hole in an old pair of adult jeans and sew up the neck of an old t-shirt. Tie around the waist with a belt and wear shoes on hands for full effect (maybe even gloves on feet)! Easy and sure to raise a few giggles. This is also good for particularly cold Halloween days.
3. A piece of lego. Cut arm, head and leg holes in a cardboard box and paint one block colour. Paint 6 identically sized yoghurt pots the same colour and fix on to the box with glue. Allow to dry and there you have it… simple, fun to make and lots of fun to wear!
4. Jack in the box. Cut the bottom and top out of a cardboard box and paint in a jazzy backgammon style pattern outside and a plain colour inside. Cut four symmetrical slits at the top of the box (2 at the front and 2 at the back) and use these to tie on some wide piece of ribbon. These will be used as shoulder straps to keep the box up. Measure the circumference of your child’s head and, using some colourful paper, make a headband that will slide on easily and hold firmly. Cut out a few long triangles of paper and affix to the headband with a little pom pom or circular piece of paper at the top of each to look like a jester’s hat. Complete with a pair of red cheeks. A little more creative but cheap, easy to find the materials and the kids can still get involved.
5. A pumpkin. Raid your local charity shops for some cheap orange trousers, a t-shirt/jumper and a green hat. Fun to have a rummage and also a learning experience for younger children about thrift and, also, charitable giving.
