A family theme makes Halloween feel like something you did together, from two parents and a baby to a big crew with grandparents and the dog. I've gathered 45 themes here, mixing current favourites from the screen with old characters, jobs, classic Halloween figures and easy homemade sets. For each one I cover clothes, hair, makeup, shoes and the one accessory that tells people who you are. Nearly all of them stretch or shrink to fit your family. The practical side matters as much as the theme: layers for a cold night, soft props for small kids, and a wagon or stroller for when little legs give up.
Handing Out Roles Before Anyone Falls in Love With One
Most family themes fall apart over casting, not sewing. I've found it helps to settle the roles at the start, and to give the youngest children the character they're already obsessed with, then build the theme around them. A four-year-old who wanted to be Yoshi will not happily become Luigi because the adults prefer it.
- Babies and toddlers get the soft, padded role: the pumpkin, the moon, the dinosaur, the pet. Hooded rompers keep heads warm and don't need hats that come off.
- School-age kids get the most recognisable character, because they're the ones who'll be asked who they are at every door.
- Parents take the roles with the most clothing and the least fuss. A parent's job on the night is carrying, steering and fixing, so no long trains or big props.
- Teens who'd rather not join in can usually be talked into a low-effort side role, like the manager, the referee or the forecaster.
1. Toy Box Family Costume
Toy Story gives you a role for every age. One parent goes as Woody in a yellow plaid shirt, cow-print vest, jeans, boots, red bandana and brown hat; another as Jessie in a white western shirt, red hat, braided red wig and boots. Kids can pick Buzz, Bo Peep, Rex or an alien in colourful jumpsuits and sneakers. A baby fits neatly into a green alien romper or a plush dinosaur suit. I'd turn the wagon into a cardboard toy package, because it gives tired toddlers somewhere to sit and pulls the whole group into one picture.
2. Blue Dog Family Costume
For a family of four, the Heelers are hard to beat. Blue, tan, orange and cream sweatshirts with matching joggers make comfortable bases, and felt patches, floppy ears and fabric tails do the rest. Upright ears on soft headbands suit Bluey and Bingo, while the parents wear bigger dog-ear hats and felt eyebrows. Keep the face paint to the nose and cheeks; most small kids tolerate that and rub off anything near their eyes. Regular sneakers are much safer than bulky paw slippers on steps. A baby can come as Muffin in gray, and the dog gets a bandana.
3. Mushroom Kingdom Family Costume
Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad and Yoshi cover a whole family. The brothers need red or green shirts, denim overalls, white gloves, caps and brown shoes, with mustaches optional for kids who hate things stuck to their lip. Peach wears a pink dress, gold crown, long blond wig and pink flats. A child makes a good Toad in white pants, a vest and a soft mushroom cap, and a baby or pet slots in as Yoshi in a green hooded onesie. I'd skip masks completely. Cardboard coins or question-mark buckets carry the theme without slowing anyone down.
4. Addams Family Costume
The Addams family is the theme I suggest when parents want to look dressed up rather than silly. Morticia wears a long black dress, straight black wig, dark eyes, red lipstick and low heels or flats; Gomez a pinstriped suit, white shirt, dark tie and a drawn-on mustache. Wednesday gets a black dress with a white collar and braids, Pugsley a striped shirt and black shorts. A baby makes a funny Cousin Itt in light brown fringe and a bowler hat. Long black hems are a real trip hazard on a dark street, so hem Morticia's dress to just above the shoe.
5. Wizard School Family Costume
Wizard-school costumes are mostly a uniform, which makes them easy to assemble from school clothes. Black robes, striped scarves, collared shirts, ties, sweaters, dark trousers or pleated skirts and sturdy black shoes form the base. Round glasses and messy hair make Harry; curls and a book make Hermione; a red wig and freckles make Ron. Parents can wear longer robes and pointed hats as professors. I'd hand kids a rolled parchment or a small plush owl instead of a stick wand, which tends to end up poking a sibling. Babies wear a cardigan in a house colour.
6. Classic Monster Family Costume
Classic monsters let everyone choose their own character and still match. Dracula needs a black cape, white shirt, slicked hair and pale makeup; Frankenstein's monster a green shirt, dark jacket, flat-topped hair and soft green makeup. For a mummy, wrap cream fabric strips over leggings and a long-sleeve shirt, stitching or pinning the ends so they don't unravel on the walk. Other kids can be a werewolf in a gray hoodie or a ghost in a white poncho that leaves the face clear. Black treat buckets and dark shoes pull the group together.
7. Superhero Family Costume
A superhero family lets every child choose a favourite and still look like one team. T-shirts, leggings, jumpsuits, capes and boots in each hero's colours do the job, whether it's Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America or the Fantastic Four. I always pick pieces loose enough for a jacket underneath, since October nights catch kids out. Short capes are safer than long ones; a cape that reaches the ankles gets stepped on. Logo treat bags tell people who you are more comfortably than foam shields.
8. Minion Family Costume
Minions are a cheap, quick theme: yellow tops, denim overalls, black gloves, goggles and black shoes. Use yellow beanies or hoodies rather than full masks so everyone can see, and stitch a few strands of black yarn to the hats for hair. One parent becomes Gru in black pants, a dark coat, a bald-cap-style beanie and a gray striped scarf; another goes as Lucy in a blue dress, red-orange wig and teal sunglasses. Goggles cut from cardboard tubes and painted silver weigh almost nothing, which matters if they sit on a child's face for two hours.
9. Scooby-Doo Family Costume
The Mystery Inc. gang plus Scooby suits five people neatly. Fred wears blue pants, a white sweater, an orange neck scarf and a blond wig; Daphne a purple dress, green scarf, red wig and lavender tights; Velma an orange sweater, red skirt, knee socks, bob wig and glasses. Shaggy needs a green T-shirt, brown pants and a shaggy wig. Scooby works for a baby, child or pet in a brown hooded onesie with felt spots and a blue collar. Velma's glasses are the one prop I'd buy rather than make, because kids who don't wear glasses will lose cheap ones within the first block.
10. Inside Out Family Costume
Inside Out depends on colour, so give every person one strong shade. Joy wears a yellow dress, blue wig and bright eye makeup; Sadness a blue sweater, navy pants, round glasses and a blue bob. Anger gets a white shirt, red tie, gray pants and red face makeup, Disgust a green dress, scarf and green wig, and Fear a purple sweater vest, checked pants and a tall styled wig. Bigger families can add Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui or Envy. Red face paint on Anger stains collars badly, so I'd paint it after the shirt is on and set it with powder.
11. K-Pop Hero Family Costume
A K-pop hero family mixes stage outfits with a fantasy edge. Dress everyone in black, white, violet and metallic pieces: cropped jackets over full-coverage tops, pleated skirts, cargo pants and platform-style sneakers. Braided extensions, high ponytails or bright streaks give each performer their own look. Sharp liner, shimmer and tiny face gems suit teens; younger kids usually manage a few gems on the cheek before they pick them off. Swap battle accessories for microphones, light-up bracelets or folding fans, and let a younger child play the manager in a headset and satin jacket.
12. Outer Space Family Costume
Space themes absorb families of any size. Adults wear white utility jumpsuits with silver patches, white sneakers and open-face helmet frames. Kids become aliens in metallic leggings, hooded tops and antenna headbands, with a little glitter on the cheeks. A baby can be the moon in a padded gray romper with soft craters, and another child Saturn in a round tunic with a foam ring at the waist. Keep the ring narrow enough to fit through a doorway. A wagon dressed as a silver spaceship carries toddlers and the spare jackets.
13. World Cup Soccer Family Costume
Soccer is the comfiest theme here, because it's real sportswear. Kids and adults wear matching jerseys, shorts or track pants, knee socks and turf-style sneakers, with shin guards over the socks if you like. Parents can come as referees in black shorts and bright shirts with a whistle on a lanyard. A few stripes of washable face paint in team colours on the cheeks is plenty. A baby fits a black-and-white ball romper. I'd agree on one colour story first, so players and referees look like they belong to the same match.
14. Circus Family Costume
A circus needs a ringmaster, a clown, a strongman, an acrobat and a lion. The ringmaster wears black pants, a red tailcoat, white shirt, gold-trimmed hat and boots. A friendly clown uses striped overalls, a bright shirt, a colourful wig and a red-painted nose rather than a full white face, which frightens some small children. The strongman carries a cardboard barbell and wears a curled mustache; the acrobat a sparkly unitard over leggings. A baby or pet makes the lion in a tan onesie and soft mane hood. Red and gold details link them.
15. Alice In Wonderland Family Costume
Wonderland gives you five very different looks. Alice needs a blue dress, white apron, black headband, white tights and flats; the Mad Hatter patterned trousers, a bright coat, bow tie, tall hat and a colourful wig. The White Rabbit wears white with a red jacket, bunny ears and a clock prop. The Queen gets a red-and-black dress, gold crown and heart makeup, and a child or pet can be the Cheshire Cat in pink-and-purple stripes. A tall Hatter's hat needs elastic under the chin or a few bobby pins, or it falls off with every turn of the head. Teacup buckets suit the theme.
16. Peter Pan Family Costume
Peter Pan has roles for every generation. Peter wears a green tunic over leggings, a brown belt, a green cap and ankle boots; Wendy a pale blue dress and ribbon. Tinker Bell needs a green dress over tights, fairy wings and a blond bun. Captain Hook can be a grandparent in a red coat, ruffled shirt, tall boots and feathered hat; I'd leave the hook prop at home with small kids around. Younger children become Lost Boys in animal-ear hoodies, and a baby or pet makes a sweet crocodile.
17. Ghostbusters Family Costume
Matching tan coveralls make Ghostbusters one of the most forgiving family themes, because the uniform is the same for everyone. Add name patches, black belts, elbow pads, gloves and black boots or sneakers. I make proton packs from painted cardboard boxes, flexible tubing and wide backpack straps, and keep the kids' versions small; a large box pulls a child backwards and gets heavy fast. A baby can be the Stay Puft man in a white romper with a sailor collar, and another child or pet can be Slimer in green.
18. Jurassic Park Family Costume
Jurassic Park pairs scientists with dinosaurs, which is handy when kids want to be the monsters. One parent goes as Alan Grant in a blue shirt, khaki pants, red bandana, brown hat and hiking boots; another as Ellie Sattler in a coral button-down, khakis and a blond ponytail. Children wear beige ranger vests with binoculars and explorer hats. Babies and pets become plush dinosaurs. A dusting of bronzer and windblown hair are the only makeup you need. A wagon dressed as a tour jeep and dinosaur-egg buckets connect it all.
19. The Incredibles Family Costume
The Incredibles need almost no explanation once everyone is in red. Each person wears a red top and leggings or a one-piece suit, black gloves, a black eye mask, a logo and boot covers over sneakers. Violet gets a long black wig and Dash swept blond hair; the parents can keep their own hair. Syndrome is a fun extra with temporary orange-red hair. Jack-Jack works as a baby in a red romper, with the mask printed on a hat rather than tied on his face. I'd check the masks on each child for a few minutes at home, since elastic that pinches behind the ears ends up in a pocket.
20. Wizard Of Oz Family Costume
Oz gives you Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion and Glinda. Dorothy wears blue gingham, a white blouse, braids, red flats and a small basket. The Scarecrow is a plaid shirt, patched pants, floppy hat and raffia cuffs, with brown makeup. The Tin Man needs silver clothing, a funnel hat and silver face paint, which I'd keep to the cheeks and forehead on a child because full silver coverage feels tight as it dries. A tan jumpsuit and soft mane make the Lion, and Glinda wears pink with a silver crown. Toto fits a baby or the dog.
21. Encanto Family Costume
The Madrigal family is ideal for a big multigenerational group. Mirabel wears an embroidered white blouse, teal skirt, green glasses, a curly bob and butterfly details. Isabela needs a purple floral dress and flower clips; Luisa a white blouse, blue skirt and red hair ribbon. Bruno gets brown pants, a green hooded poncho and a curly wig. Adults can take Julieta, Pepa, Félix or Abuela. For budget versions, I glue or stitch felt butterflies and flowers onto plain clothes; felt holds better if you stitch the centre, since glue alone peels off knit fabric in the wash.
22. Farm Family Costume
A farm theme comes almost entirely out of the closet. One parent is the farmer in denim overalls, a plaid shirt, straw hat and work boots; another wears a barn-red dress or overalls with a bandana and braids. Kids become cows, pigs, chickens or sheep in plain sweatsuits with felt ears, fabric tails and soft hoods. A baby can be a chick or a pumpkin, and the dog a sheep in a light fleece vest. Metal-look pails work for candy. A wagon with cardboard fence panels and a little red barn front finishes the scene.
23. Bee And Beekeeper Family Costume
Bees, beekeepers and flowers work for small or large families. Beekeepers wear white coveralls, gloves and wide-brim hats with soft mesh veils that leave the face visible. Bees need striped shirts, black leggings, sheer wings and antenna headbands. Extra kids can be flowers in green with soft petal collars. A baby makes the queen bee with a tiny crown. Keep the wings short; wide wings bump other trick-or-treaters on a busy path and bend after the first car ride. Honey-pot buckets or yellow pails with felt drips finish it.
24. Weather Forecast Family Costume
A weather report is clever and cheap. The forecaster wears a blazer, collared shirt and dress pants and holds a handmade forecast board. Sunshine wears yellow with a soft ray collar. I build a cloud from a pale gray sweatshirt covered in lightweight batting, which is warm and easy to glue, and hang blue ribbon raindrops from the sleeves for a rainy one. Someone else wears rainbow layers and striped tights. A baby can be a snowflake in a white romper. Kids like explaining who they are at each door, which helps.
25. Fast Food Family Costume
Fast food gets laughs at every door. Light felt tunics over long-sleeve shirts and leggings keep each food comfortable. The burger stacks tan, green, red, yellow and brown layers with a sesame-seed headband; fries wear a red box-shaped tunic with yellow felt strips. A soda needs a tall tunic and a striped straw headband. The restaurant worker wears black pants, a bright polo, a paper-style hat and an apron. Felt tunics are the right call here, because cardboard boxes stop kids sitting in the car and crush in the first hour.
26. Candy Land Family Costume
Candy Land turns the family into a walking board game. One parent is King Kandy in a colourful coat, striped pants and a crown; another Princess Lolly in a rainbow dress and candy hair clips. Kids can be gingerbread figures, gumdrops, peppermints or ice cream in padded tunics over warm layers. A baby makes a cupcake in a wrapper-style romper with a cherry hat. Pastel wigs, striped socks and glittery sneakers push the fantasy, and a colour-blocked wagon sets the scene for photos. Glitter migrates onto everything, so I keep it on shoes, not faces.
27. Crayon Box Family Costume
A crayon box gives each person a colour and keeps the group tidy. Make long tunics from coloured felt, or use matching T-shirts and pants with black wavy trim, plus a pointed cone hat and matching leggings. Let each child choose their own colour; they'll wear it more happily. One adult becomes the box in a yellow-and-green cardboard panel over dark clothing. Leave the box open at the sides so arms swing freely. Felt cones keep their shape best with a strip of thin card inside, and a chin elastic stops them flopping.
28. Rock Band Family Costume
A family rock band uses leather-look jackets, plain tees, metallic skirts, dark jeans, sequined pants and boots. Give each person a job: singer, keyboard player, drummer or guitarist. Real instruments are heavy and break, so I use inflatable microphones, foam music notes and small cardboard keyboards. Teased ponytails, faux-hawks, long wigs or glittery buns suit the stage. Bold liner and star stickers on the cheeks finish the faces. Babies become backstage crew with laminated passes and soft headphones. One accent colour, like electric blue, ties the band together.
29. Pirate Family Costume
Pirates are mostly layering: striped shirts, loose trousers, vests, waist sashes, head scarves and boots. One parent is the captain in a long burgundy coat, ruffled shirt and big hat. Kids wear cropped pants over striped tights with bandanas and fabric belts. Freckles, smudged liner or a curled mustache give character without anything scary. I replace swords with treasure maps, telescopes, compasses and plush parrots, which kids actually enjoy carrying more. A baby can be a parrot and the dog a deckhand in a striped bandana. A cardboard treasure-chest wagon finishes the crew.
30. Mermaid And Sailor Family Costume
Mermaids and sailors mix fantasy with nautical stripes. Mermaid skirts need a walking slit, or the wearer shuffles all night; I cut the slit at the back and hem it so the scale fabric doesn't fray. Add fitted long-sleeve tops, shell necklaces, colourful wigs and flat metallic shoes. Sailors wear navy pants, striped shirts, white caps and red neck scarves. A child can be an octopus with soft tentacles sewn around a purple sweatshirt's waist, and a baby a pearl in a white padded romper. Navy, aqua and silver accents link the family.
31. Fairy Tale Family Costume
Fairy tales let a family mix a princess, a knight, a fairy godmother, a dragon and a little royal. The princess wears a long pastel dress, small crown and comfortable flats; I'd shorten the hem for walking. The knight gets a gray tunic, fabric chainmail hood, cape and boots instead of hard armour. The fairy godmother wears a lavender robe, pointed hood and a star accessory. A child or pet makes a friendly dragon in a hooded onesie with soft wings. A baby in a velvet-look romper and fabric crown completes the court.
32. Firefighter And Dalmatian Family Costume
Firefighters and Dalmatians suit families with a dog. Firefighters wear navy pants, yellow or tan jackets trimmed with reflective ribbon, suspenders, plastic helmets and sturdy black shoes. That reflective ribbon is a real safety bonus on a dark street, not just decoration. Kids dressed as Dalmatians wear white sweatsuits with black felt spots, floppy ears and tails. A baby wears a spotted romper and the family dog a red bandana. Plush hoses or badge buckets replace equipment, and a red fire-engine wagon gives tired firefighters a ride home.
33. Construction Crew Family Costume
A construction crew is comfortable and uses clothes most families own. Jeans, flannel shirts, orange or yellow safety vests, hard hats, work gloves and boots cover adults and older kids. Fill tool belts with foam rulers and paintbrushes rather than real tools, which get heavy and clank. An engineer carries rolled plans. A toddler makes an excellent traffic cone in an orange tunic with reflective trim and a cone hat. A baby can be a little bulldozer with felt wheels. Those safety vests are already reflective, which I count as a big plus after dark.
34. Skeleton Family Costume
Skeletons are classic, cheap and show up well in evening photos. Start with black long-sleeve shirts and leggings or sweatpants printed or decorated with white fabric bones. Add black sneakers with white laces and skeleton gloves. Soft white and gray skull shapes around the eyes and cheeks keep the look friendly. I'd use skeleton pajama sets for kids, which are warm and washable. A baby can wear a black romper with a simple ribcage. Black clothing disappears at night, so glow-trimmed buckets are worth the small cost.
35. Pumpkin Patch Family Costume
A pumpkin patch is the coziest theme for a cold night. Babies and young kids wear padded orange pumpkin rompers with green leaf collars and stem hats. Older children wear orange sweatshirts with black felt jack-o'-lantern faces. Parents become pumpkin farmers in overalls, plaid shirts and straw hats, and another adult can be a scarecrow. The padding is the point here; it's real warmth, so I size the rompers up to fit a layer underneath. Basket buckets and a wagon with faux vines and fabric pumpkins finish it, and the whole set works for autumn photos afterwards.
36. Forest Animal Family Costume
Woodland animals all share an earthy palette, which makes them look planned. Brown, rust, cream, gray and tan sweatshirts and leggings form the bases; soft ear headbands, tails, feather-look collars or hoods identify each animal. A fox gets white cheeks and a dark nose, a deer small painted spots. Bears wear round ears and fuzzy vests, rabbits long ears and fluffy tails. Kids keep these on because sweatshirts are clothes they already like wearing. A baby makes a hedgehog in a padded brown romper. Leaf-decorated baskets tie the group together.
37. Garden Gnome Family Costume
A garden scene mixes gnomes, a mushroom, a flower and a gardener. Gnomes wear solid tunics, dark leggings, wide belts, brown boots and tall felt hats, with soft white beards for adults only; beards on small kids end up in their mouths. Rosy cheeks and freckles do the job for children. One person can be a red-and-white mushroom with a padded spotted cap, another a flower with a petal collar. The gardener wears overalls, a sun hat and gloves and carries a small watering can. A baby gnome in a pointed hat sits nicely at the front of photos.
38. Retro Aerobics Family Costume
Retro aerobics is the most active theme here, so it suits energetic kids. Layer neon tank tops over fitted long-sleeve shirts with leggings, bike shorts and leg warmers. Sweatbands, high ponytails, scrunchies, white sneakers and belt bags complete it. Adults can add windbreakers and track pants for warmth. Leg warmers slide down constantly; a small safety pin at the inside of the knee holds them. Bright eye shadow and side ponytails set the era. A baby joins in a neon romper. Repeating two or three neon colours keeps the group coordinated.
39. Detective Family Costume
Detectives work for families who'd rather not wear anything silly. Adults wear trench coats, collared shirts, plaid trousers, ties and newsboy caps; kids wear cardigans, skirts or dark pants, suspenders and bow ties. Magnifying glasses, notebooks, maps and small flashlights are safe props, and the flashlight is genuinely handy on dark sidewalks. A drawn-on mustache distinguishes one detective, round glasses another. A baby or pet can be the missing clue in a question-mark romper. Envelope treat bags and name badges finish it on a small budget.
40. Robot Family Costume
Robots are a good rainy-weekend craft for kids. Each person wears a gray sweatsuit or metallic top and leggings under a light box-shaped chest panel. Add square headbands or open helmet frames, silver sneakers and foil-look cuffs. Felt circles, bottle caps and painted cardboard make switches and screens. Cardboard softens in rain, so I seal the panels with a coat of clear acrylic or wrap them in silver duct tape. Give each robot its own accent colour so people can tell the family apart. Cube buckets carry the candy.
41. Safari Family Costume
Safari explorers with lions, giraffes, zebras and elephants give kids the animal roles they usually want. Explorers wear khaki shirts, cargo pants over leggings, utility vests, wide-brim hats, binoculars and hiking shoes. Kids become animals in printed onesies with soft ears and tails and gentle face paint. A baby elephant wears a gray romper with big ears and a soft trunk hood, and a pet can wear a zebra vest. The plain khaki balances the busy animal prints in photos, and map-print bags plus a safari-vehicle wagon finish it.
42. Greek Mythology Family Costume
Mount Olympus works for families who like a more grown-up theme. Use draped white, cream, burgundy and blue tunics over full-coverage shirts and leggings, which matters on a cold night. Zeus wears a white beard, gold leaf crown, gray wig and cape; Hera a long gown, gold belt and braided updo. Athena gets a blue tunic and shoulder panels, Hermes a short tunic with wing decorations on his shoes. Pegasus fits a baby or pet. Sandals over secure shoes, or sandal straps painted on socks, keep toes warm and safe.
43. Barbie World Family Costume
A Barbie world gives everyone a pink role. One adult wears a hot pink western shirt, flared pants, white hat, curled blond wig and white boots; another goes as Ken in a striped beach shirt, pastel shorts and sunglasses. Kids can be roller skaters in neon activewear and knee pads, or wear sparkly pink party dresses with flats. A baby gets a pink romper and a tiny visor. Leave the actual roller skates at home for trick-or-treating; they're a fall waiting to happen on driveways. Pink tote bags and matching sunglasses link the looks.
44. Peanuts Family Costume
Peanuts is a gentle theme that every grandparent recognises. Charlie Brown needs a yellow zigzag shirt, black shorts or pants and a small curl drawn near the forehead. Lucy wears a blue dress and a dark bob; Linus a red striped shirt and a soft blue blanket; Sally a pink dress and a blond curled wig. A baby or pet becomes Snoopy in a white hooded suit with black ears, and another little one Woodstock in yellow. I cut the zigzag from black felt and stitch it on, since iron-on tape tends to lift on stretchy T-shirts.
45. Classic Halloween Icon Family Costume
When nobody agrees on a character, a black-and-orange palette rescues the family. Mix a witch in a black dress, striped tights and a pointed hat; a ghost in a white poncho with the face left clear; a black cat with ears, tail and whiskers; a bat with fabric wings; and pumpkins in padded orange rompers for the babies. A sheet with eyeholes is the one ghost I always talk families out of, because it slips and blinds the child at every curb. Matching orange buckets and similar shoes make the mix look planned.
Reflective Tape Belongs on Every Dark Costume
Half the themes above lean on black, navy or brown, and those colours vanish on an unlit street. I add a strip of iron-on or sew-on reflective tape to the back of every child's costume, usually along a cape hem, the back of a hood or the side seam of a pant leg. It's nearly invisible in photos and shows up brightly in car headlights.
Glow bracelets and a small flashlight per older child help too, and a light-coloured treat bucket is easier for drivers to spot than a black one. Face paint beats masks for the same reason: kids need their full field of view to see curbs, steps and cars backing out of driveways.
Trying Every Costume On a Week Ahead
Put the whole family in costume at home for half an hour about a week before Halloween. You'll find out which hat slips, which tail drags, which glove itches and which face paint a child refuses to tolerate, while there's still time to fix it.
- Have each child sit in a car seat, climb stairs and walk to the corner. Anything that pokes, pinches or trips gets changed.
- Patch-test any face paint on the inside of the wrist and wait a day before using it on a face.
- Check that a warm layer fits underneath every costume; if it doesn't, size up now rather than leaving the coat on top all night.
- Pack a small kit for the walk: safety pins, a few hook-and-loop dots, wipes and a spare pair of socks.
The Theme That Stays On Until the Last Doorbell
A family costume works when everyone will happily keep theirs on and people can see you belong together. Some of these themes come straight from the closet, some are weekend craft projects, and a few suit families who enjoy making things. Before you settle, think about the weather, how far you'll walk, the youngest child's age and whether a stroller or wagon has to come along. Light accessories, layers, visible faces and sneakers make the night easier. Grandparents, babies and pets all fit into smaller roles, so pick something your family already loves and build around it.
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