When I think of "last minute costumes", I cannot help but reminisce about my sophomore year of high school. It was that Halloween that my geography teacher came into class wearing a pot on his head. Initially confused by his costume, my classmates and I teased him for dressing up as Johnny Appleseed. While that would have been a cute costume for someone within the history department, my teacher was actually a little more cleaver (and a lot more lazy) when putting together his disguise. Right before the final bell rang, my teacher told us that he was a "Pot Head", not Johnny Appleseed.
Nineteen years and two kids later, my teacher's costume is not just a comical memory for me, but it has also become the most BRILLIANT idea that I have ever heard! Pulling together a Halloween disguise by way of the kitchen is basically every mothers' dream! This is especially true this year when there has been so much uncertainty surrounding the holiday. From talks of cancellation to strict guidelines regarding trick or treating, it could very well be that with one week left before Halloween your kids are costume-less.
Fear not! Here are 10 costume ideas that you can pull together from items laying around your house (or from a quick trip to Staples):
1. Skeleton:
A black shirt, black pants and white medical tape is all that you need to pull off being this main Halloween character!
2. Athlete:
Still have your old school sport uniform tucked away in your closet? Alter it so that your kid can be your JV counterpart!
3. Hershey Kiss:
With tinfoil to wrap your kids head, string to strap the foil around his neck and a big HERSHEY sign glued to the top, your kid will be the "sweetest" thing to walk around the neighborhood!
4. Mummy:
It can't get much easier than this! Toilet paper is all that you need to turn your kid into this spooky, kooky character!
5. Superhero:
What's a superhero without his cape? Tie a pillow case around your kid's neck, paint a mask on his face and draw a symbol on his shirt for a "mighty" good Halloween!
6. Jellyfish:
While a clear umbrella works best, its easy to turn your kid into this sea enemy by adding large eyes and streamers to an old umbrella!
7. Dinosaur:
With multicolored, felt triangles glued (or sewn) to a shirt, your kid will have a "roaring" good time trick or treating!
8. Scuba Diver:
Still have extra liter soda bottles hanging around before recycle day?! With two of them (and a pair of swim googles), your kid will make a splash with her costume!
9. Hangman Character:
Think of this as the reverse to the skeleton costume. With a white shirt, white pants and electrical tape, your kid can become a stick figure!
10. Birthday Candle:
With a poster board wrapped around your kid and yellow/orange tissue paper pinned to the top of her head, she will "brighten" everyone's Halloween!
