Halloween will be celebrated in record numbers in 2014. The National Retail Federation says the “total spending for the holiday on costumes, decorations, candy and more is estimated at $7.4 billion.” That’s insane (and completely unnecessary if you’re a parent)!
The Education team at Kiddie Academy has put together some quick tips for choosing the right costumes appropriate for toddlers to help ease any anxiety that comes with the occasion:
- Avoid spending lots of money and make something simple. Your kids can be original and unique without breaking the bank. And, if you make the costume yourself, you’ll have a better sense of the material which will ultimately help your kids avoid rashes, environmental allergies or reactions to foreign fibers.
- Stick to animals, occupation or favorite book character. This will be easy for children to relate to and will allow for their imagination to really shine.
- Depending on where you live, make sure the costume is big enough to fit warm clothing underneath and keep footwear sensible.
- Beware of choking hazards with costumes, accessories and trinkets.
- Choose a light-colored costume because these are easily seen at night.
In addition to choosing the right costume, it’s important to reinforce safety. “Toddlers should not be out late for obvious reasons — they get tired, cranky, etc. – but also because they may be frightened of the other trick-or-treaters’ costumes after dark,” says Renee Thompson, director of curriculum at Kiddie Academy. “They may enjoy going to just a few houses, or staying home to see some of the trick-or-treaters at their house.”
Don’t forget to sneak in some educational fun with turning the review of your child’s candy haul into a sweet math activity.
Happy trick-or-treating!
