Halloween Do's & Don'ts...Plus Great Costume Buying Ideas

by Claudine

Halloween is always such a fun time of the year.  As a child I counted the days until October 31st.  Halloween always promised a night of fun with friends that included an amazing costume (at least I thought so) and loads of candy.  What more could a child want?

My enthusiasm for Halloween waned as I grew older.  In my post college years there were a handful of parties, but they always seemed to annoy me.  Dressing up wasn't fun anymore.  Going to a costume party in my twenties seemed more like work.  Pass me a drink already...do I seriously need to be a cat for yet another year!  Where are the whiskers, tail, leggings and black turtleneck?  But...times change.

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It was only after having my wonderful little girl that I rediscovered my love for fall and for Halloween.  Every fall festival and pumpkin patch was a perfect excuse for a weekend trip to the country and yet another photo op.  Clearly I was falling in love with the season. Maybe this is yet another example of kids keeping adults young.

As the years pass and my daughter celebrates her 8th Halloween, I do find that the rules change.  Gone are the costumes I want and in are the costumes she wants (shudder).  I spoke with some of my friends and asked "What are the rules for Halloween?"

Here are some great tips for your next Halloween adventure.

1. Despite your little one demanding to be the perfect Iron Man, try to avoid facemasks.  Children tend to get uncomfortable in masks.  Masks inevitably get taken off by the 3rd stop of the evening. 
   
   
2. Don't feel obligated to buy the matching costume shoes.  They can be overpriced and again can be very uncomfortable.  In truth costume shoes are seldom seen and won't be used again.  Save your money and go with sneakers.
   
   
3. Practice safety first!  Bring a flashlight and/or reflective tape.  Reflective tape can be put on the back of a child's costume.  Even supervised groups of children can linger into local streets during prime trick-or-treating hours.  Following these safety tips can help alert motorists to the presence of small children.
   
   
4. Make sure costumes are large enough for an under layer.  The reality is that the DC Metro area can be cold by October 31st.  Depending on the weather, you may want to layer a warm shirt, turtleneck, or pants underneath.  Most kids would rather have an layer under their clothes versus a coat on over fairy wings or superhero cape. 
   
   
5. Think about costume swapping.  Find a friend, neighbor or make a post on your local mom's group forum and find out about swapping.  Costumes are typically worn once or twice.  Why not save some money and swap.  One other money saving tip, if you are comfortable waiting until the second week of October, costumes often go on sale.  Pottery Barn is notorious for last minute markdowns.
   
   
6. Have fun...in moderation.  Before whisking away their loot, let children glory in their bounty by counting, sorting, or even trading their loot with friends.   Once all the candy is spread out its also a good time for you to make sure none of the wrappers are opened and that there are no suspicious or unsafe treats. After your child has picked a few favorites to savor, pack it up and save the rest for later.   Note: it is perfectly fine to pick out your own favorites after they have gone to bed.  Consider it a commission well-earned.
   
   
7. Lastly, all of the costume images came from Amazon.com.  There are a number of online vendors that have great deals and wonderful customer feedback. If you want to touch and feel and a costume, I highly recommend making a trip to Marshalls or T.J.Maxx.
   

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!



Image Credit:

Amazon
PB Kids
The Stay At Home Mom