Halloween. Go to the store. Buy a costume on a hanger. Buy bags of candy. Open the door, put a candy bar into a Trick or Treat bag, close the door. Doesn’t sound like much fun, does it?
This year, with just a little bit of planning and preparation, Halloween can be fun…just like it used to be!
Our series of blogs will help you with the following: (1) planning what to be for Halloween, (2) making your own Halloween costume, (3) preparing Trick or Treat candy bags, and (4) having some fun handing out candy. ( Re-posting of this popular Halloween article. )
(1) Planning What to Be for Halloween
In days gone by, deciding on “what to be for Halloween” was a process that took months. Of course, “in those days” there weren’t such things as superheroes (other than Superman), transformers, and other popular animated characters from videos and TV. Choices were along more traditional lines: cowboy, cowgirl, witch, vampire, doctor, nurse, fireman, clown, the ever-popular hobo, and, oh yes, Superman. Some kids got really creative, others not as much, but it didn’t matter. Everyone walked from house to house wearing a homemade costume, and had lots of fun!
Parents can start now to encourage their kids to think, plan, and then make their own costumes (or at least help to make them). This is also a good way to talk with your kids and get to know how they think, what is important to them, and how to communicate with them on their level.
Planning on a Halloween costume needs to start early, as soon as August or September. You can begin the process by asking the simple question, “If you could be anything or anybody for Halloween, what or who would you like to be?” Be receptive to anything because your kids might really surprise you! Don’t dismiss any idea as being too outrageous, be interested in their choices, and ask questions to help them think of other ideas. Show your interest by making a list and offering suggestions that are along the same lines as what your kids come up with.
When you have a short list of ideas, then sit together with your kids in front of the computer to search for pictures of that person, animal, character, or thing. If you have a set of encyclopedias, use them as well. If the choice is for an animated character, use whatever books, comic books, or videos that you have on hand to help you to help your kids figure out what is needed for the costume.
If your child decides to be a historical person, then now is a great time to introduce books about the person. Encourage interest in history and help by learning a little bit about that person as well, so that you have something in common to talk about. If your child decides to be an animal or some other thing, then find all the information you can find about that as well. You’ll probably be surprised at how much quality time you can have with your kids just learning about whatever it is that is going to be turned into a Halloween costume.
Once your kids have settled on what to be for Halloween, you’ll need to start thinking about, planning for, and assembling what you need to make a great homemade costume! For more, be sure to come back to Halloween-Printable on Aug 23th for Part (2): Making Your Own Halloween Costume. ( Re-posting of this popular Halloween article. )
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and Halloween
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