Halloween, the spookiest time of the year, is just around the corner, and kids everywhere are buzzing with excitement about what costume they’ll wear. While it might be tempting to purchase a pre-made costume off the rack, there are significant benefits to encouraging your child to get creative and make their own Halloween costume. Besides, did you know that buying Halloween costumes is still more of a newer concept?
It wasn’t until the post-war era in the 20th century that Halloween became so commercialized; before then, everyone made their own costumes, and they made their own Halloween decor, too, such as jack-o-lanterns and handprinted crafts. But with that said, while mass-produced costumes are pretty normal, it might help to start getting into your crafty side and get your kids into making their own Halloween costumes. So, here are some of the incredible benefits that you can expect!
It’s All About Fostering Creativity
One of the most significant advantages of kids making their own Halloween costumes is that it unleashes their creativity. When children are given the freedom to brainstorm, design, and create their costumes, they have the opportunity to let their imaginations run wild. Whether they’re transforming into witches, wizards, or mythical creatures, the creative process allows them to explore their artistic side and come up with unique, one-of-a-kind costume ideas. But it doesn’t have to be just them; if you’re the one who wants to make a costume for them, then it can be pretty beneficial for you as well.
Costume-Making Encourages Problem-Solving Skills
When it comes to anything creative and crafty, you can basically expect to land into some problems that will need to be solved. Just think about it: they’ll need to figure out how to translate their costume ideas into reality, whether it’s sewing, painting, or constructing various elements. These challenges encourage them to think critically and find innovative solutions, which are valuable life skills they’ll carry with them into adulthood.
Even as a parent, if you’re making the clothes yourself, you can still expect to develop some problem-solving skills, too. Plus, it gives you the chance to think outside the box. For instance, if you want to add embellishments to the costumes, such as embroidery or something like that, rather than doing all of this work the old-fashioned way, you’re simply solving your problem by getting a touch screen brother machine that offers the embroidery features. In general, it’s about thinking outside the box.
Costume-Making is a Major Confidence Builder
So, you’ll want to think about it this way: watching their creations come to life can boost a child’s self-esteem and confidence. As they work on their costumes, they learn that they are capable of accomplishing challenging tasks. Plus, wearing a costume they made themselves can make them feel proud and self-assured when they strut their stuff on Halloween night. Sure, sometimes it can be the exact opposite for kids if they’re wanting to blend in, but at the end of the day, the goal is to stand out and be different, and kids are usually proud of themselves when they overcome a hurdle.
It’s All About Strengthening That Bond
When it comes to costume making, just like most arts and crafts done at home, it’s important that the parents get involved, too. It’s not just about safety, but it’s also about having a special time to bond together. Collaborating on the project provides an opportunity for quality time together, fostering a sense of connection and trust. It’s a chance to share stories, laughter, and even some trial and error as you work together towards a common goal.
It’s More Sustainable
Currently, we’re all living in a world that needs saving, and being eco-friendly is truly the way to go about it. Many store-bought costumes are made from synthetic materials that may end up in landfills after just one use; while it’s super unfortunate, it’s the truth. By creating costumes from recycled or repurposed materials, kids can learn about environmental responsibility and the value of upcycling. Besides, if you use what you already have, you’re not only being more eco-friendly but cost-effective too.
Cultivating Resourcefulness
When kids make their own Halloween costumes, they often need to make the best of what’s available. This can lead to a sense of resourcefulness as they find creative ways to repurpose everyday items into costume components. In general, it’s a valuable lesson in making the most out of what you have and thinking outside the box.
It’s Tailored to Them
When it comes to mass-produced Halloween costumes, like the ones you buy from Spirit Halloween, they’re all not only low quality, but there’s that lack of personality, too. But it’s never like that with a homemade costume; ever, there’s so much personality! A homemade Halloween costume allows children to express their individuality and interests. Whether they want to be a historical figure, a character from a favorite book, or a whimsical creation from their imagination, the possibilities are endless. This personalized expression can help them feel more connected to their costume and Halloween festivities.
It’s Budget-Friendly
So, while it’s far from ideal, it definitely deserves some attention, and that’s the fact that Halloween costumes (regardless of age or size) are all very expensive. They’re low quality, too, nowadays, so basically, they can only be worn once. Some of these one-time-use costumes can go up to as high as $100, which is pretty outrageous if you think about it. So you can absolutely count on saving a lot of money by DIYing a costume, and it can even be worn, too if you want.
It Can Help Build Independence
Making a costume is no easy feat; it’s honestly pretty difficult to do. Of course, it’s all going to depend on the costume itself because something like a ghost is easy compared to a superhero costume. But with that said, this gives a push to become more independent for your child since they’re having to go outside the box for all of this.
As stated before, this is going to become a major confidence booster, and since this is going to be a confidence booster, it basically means that it’s going to soon enough become something that gives your child the confidence to know that they can rely on themselves to get something done, even something complicated like this. This is definitely a good thing to keep in mind.
Their Imagination Gets to Run Wild
Isn’t that the entire point of Halloween in the first place? Children are supposed to let themselves run freely and embrace imagination, and a costume they made basically allows for all of this. They can transform into anything they dream up, whether it’s a classic Halloween character or a character from their favorite book, movie, or video game. This imaginative play nurtures their creativity and storytelling skills. If they want to be a neon green dragon with sparkles, they can; if they want to be a tornado, they can; if they want something really wacky like being a book for Halloween, they can; that’s the whole beauty behind all of this!
They’re Learning in the Process
Even when it comes to Halloween, this can be a learning experience for children too. In fact, getting in touch with their creative side can be a major learning process. Depending on the costume’s complexity, they might learn sewing, painting, crafting, or even basic electronics for costume lighting effects. These skills can be valuable for future projects and hobbies. You never know, then these skills might come in handy for the future!