As summer draws to a close it’s time to start thinking about the best holiday of the year–Halloween! When you have kids, Halloween is both a ton of fun and a major headache. Getting your kid to settle on a costume that you can both agree on is definitely one of those headaches.
While there’s something to be said for going all out on a complicated Halloween costume, sometimes sticking to the basics is the way to go. Check out these basic Halloween costumes that even the pickiest kid will love (and so will you because they’re so easy to throw together!).
1. Create Your Own Superhero
Superheroes are all the rage these days, especially with the kiddos. But those brand name superhero costumes are super expensive! If you’re looking for a fun DIY costume that also encourages your kid’s creativity, a “create your own superhero” costume is perfect.
Work with your kids to create their own, unique superhero. Then ask them how you can work together to modify some of their existing clothes to make a super creative superhero costume.
This could be as simple as using fabric paints to decorate some leggings and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Add a cape and you’re all set!
2. Witch
There’s no Halloween costume more classic or basic than the witch. And the best part of this costume is that you don’t need to buy much.
If your kiddo has a black dress that you don’t mind “distressing” a bit, then all you’ll need to get to top off the costume is a witchy hat. You can even use the household broom as a free costume accessory.
3. Cowpoke
Another basic Halloween costume that everyone loves is the cowpoke. This is another costume that can be put together with clothes from the closet and some high-quality accessories.
Grab a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt from your kid’s closet and pair it with some kids western wear, like an awesome vest or cowboy hat. With this costume, your kid’s guaranteed to be the cutest kid on the ranch.
4. Black Cat
What’s Halloween without a black cat? If your kiddo has some black leggings and a black t-shirt then you’re all set!
You can create your own ears by covering cardboard triangles with some black construction paper and attaching them to a headband. If your black cat needs a tail you can roll up some black fabric and either sew it or hot glue it to the seat of the leggings.
If you’ve got all the right things in the house this costume can actually be free, which is the best kind of Halloween costume.
5. DIY Spider
If you and your kids are crafty types, try putting together this spooky spider costume. Grab a bunch of paper towel rolls and paint them black. Attach them together with some strong black twine or zip ties so they’re flexible. Repeat this process to create eight spider legs.
Fasten the legs to a strong piece of cardboard. Use some fabric to create two arm straps and attach them to the cardboard as well. The legs will be worn like a backpack over a black shirt. Grab some black leggings from your kiddos closet and this crafty costume is complete!
6. Rosie the Riveter
If you’ve got a girl (or a boy!) who wants to pay tribute to girl power, then a Rosie the Riveter costume is just right. And it’s really easy to put together too.
All you need is a pair of jeans, a denim shirt, and of course, a red bandana. If you’re feeling crafty, you can make the iconic “We Can Do It!” sign for your little one to carry with them to really tie the costume together.
7. Skeleton
Halloween isn’t complete without at least one kid dressed as a skeleton, and that can be your kid with very little effort on your part! All you need is some black pants, a black long-sleeved shirt, and some white fabric.
Cut the white fabric into strips. Then either sew or hot glue them to the black pants and shirt so they look like bones.
If your kid already has the black pants and shirt and you have some old white sheets or pillowcases, then this is yet another free DIY costume!
8. Zombie
Some Halloween costumes are really all about the makeup. Creating the perfect zombie costume is super simple. All you need to do is artfully destroy some of your kiddo’s old clothing.
But really nailing this costume requires some makeup skills. Since you didn’t spend anything on the actual costume, splurge a little on the makeup and watch a video tutorial on how to create the perfect zombie look.
Now your kid just needs to work on their zombie shuffle!
9. Pirate
What kid doesn’t want to be a pirate at some point? That’s probably why it’s such a popular classic Halloween costume. And it’s yet another costume that you can throw together with items from your kid’s closet and some crafting skills.
Take a pair of white or khaki pants and cut them off at the knee or mid-calf. Make sure to fray the edges. Any striped t-shirt will do for the top.
An eye patch can easily be created by cutting out a circle of cardboard, painting it black, and attaching some black string or elastic. Top it off with a bandana and your kiddo is the next Jack Sparrow–minus the rum of course.
Saving on Basic Halloween Costumes
Halloween can easily become a really expensive holiday if you’re purchasing costumes. This is especially true if you’re purchasing costumes for multiple kids.
But impressing on Halloween night doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank on a crazy costume. These DIY basic Halloween costumes look just as good as the ones from the store and they’re free or next to free.
For more tips about how to DIY to save with your family, check out the Money section of our site.
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