Easy Kids' Costumes to Make or Buy This Halloween
Updated: Oct 25, 2022
If your kids are like mine, they have been telling you what they want to be for Halloween for about 11 months. Except they keep changing their minds. Any smart mom knows you don’t buy the costume until closer to the actual holiday, right?
The problem is: now you’re a few weeks away and everything is sold out or hard to find. And you’re still not 100% sure your kid won’t change their mind again before it’s time to trick-or-treat.
This post is all about making your life easier in the costume department. We’ve put together a collection of easy kids’ costumes to make or to buy with basics you probably already have or pieces you should be able to find at the store.
Check it out!
*Disclaimer: Some of the links you see may be affiliate links. All that means is if you click through and end up making a purchase, I’ll earn a commission.
Easy Kids’ Costumes to Buy
Waldo
Purchase a red and white striped shirt and a ski hat with a puff ball on the end. Set your kid up with a pair of Harry Potter glasses, and you’ve got a bonafide Where’s Waldo? character on your hands!
Astronaut
Buy a NASA sweatsuit for your child instead of an expensive astronaut suit with bubble helmet. They can be an astronaut on the space station. Watch some YouTube videos of our real NASA astronauts in space for inspiration.
White Swan
Purchase a white dress and tights, and a white feather boa to form a collar. Be sure to put hair up in a bun for this costume.
Rosie the Riveter
Purchase a denim shirt and pants, along with a polka dot scarf or headband. Roll up the sleeves and teach your child how to show off their biceps.
Mermaid
With mermaid print so popular these days, there are many ways to accomplish this without purchasing an expensive mermaid costume. Repurpose mermaid leggings, or buy a mermaid tail blanket if you prefer, and pair with a matching colored tee.
Costumes You Can DIY
Jellyfish
Cut clear bubble wrap into strips. Attach the strips to the underside of a clear umbrella to be the legs of the jellyfish. Dress all in white and carry the umbrella over your head.
Audrey Hepburn
A black dress, a string of pearls, a high bun, and big sunglasses will get the job done here.
Olaf
Put your kid in a white hoodie, and add 3 (glue or tape) big black circles to the front for buttons. Put eyes on the hood, and either paint a foam cone orange or use a real carrot. Add a stick to the carrot so they can hold it up in front of their nose. Black pants work fine for this outfit.
Ted Lasso
Dress your kids in khakis and a puffer jacket. Add a mustache and aviator sunglasses and a whistle around their neck, and you have the perfect costume.
Etch-a-Sketch
Paint a cardboard box red, and cut out a square from the middle of one side. That will be where your kid peeks out. Save two round plastic lids from yogurt or sour cream containers, and glue them (word side down) to the bottom corners of the box for the dials.
Librarian
Put your child in plaid, give them some fashion glasses to wear, and give them a book or two to carry. Bonus points for a cardigan.
Punny Costumes to Make or Buy
Black Eyes Ps
This one has to be done with a partner because it’s plural. Wear all black. Use dark makeup to give yourself black eyes. Cut out large white letter Ps from paper and tape to your shirt.
When Life Gives You Lemons
Wear a tee with the word “Life” on it, and carry a basket of lemons. Hand them out to people.
Smarty Pants
Tape rolls of Smarties candy to your pants. If you want to go all out, wear big fashion glasses.
Chip On Your Shoulder
Cut a yellow piece of paper into an oval. Fold it accordion style and tape it to your child’s shoulder, in any outfit they like.
Spring Fever
Dress in your sunniest outfit, or something floral. Then tape a piece of paper to your mouth with a high temperature on it, or use an Avery label.
Social Butterfly
Get a pair of butterfly wings, and pair with a black tee. Tape social media logos to the shirt.
Heard It Through the Grapevine
Have your child wear big headphones and carry a bunch of grapes (real or plastic).
Chick Magnet
Either make or buy a horseshoe shaped magnet, big enough to go around your child’s neck. You can accomplish this with cardboard if you paint the magnet red and the two ends silver. Glue a few chicks or rubber ducks to the ends.
Fake News
Wear a tee and create a label that says “Fake” for the front. Use newspaper to make a tutu to wear with it.
The Best Costume Is An Easy One
Hopefully, whether you go with something you buy at the store, something you make yourself, or a super pun, your choice is the same: easy kids’ costumes this year for the win!
Let us know how it goes: post a comment below or on our socials.
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*Disclaimer: Some of the links you see may be affiliate links. All that means is if you click through and end up making a purchase, I’ll earn a commission.