DIY Kids Costumes

When the hot weather finally fades, children start getting exciting about Halloween and the seemingly endless possibilities of costumes. Once a kid is old enough to talk, he or she is going to voice an opinion about what to wear. Favorite characters from television shows are always cool Halloween costume ideas for kids, but sometimes you'll end up seeing 10 Harry Potter costumes or a dozen Hannah Montana costumes - that can be disappointing for the youngster that wants to stand out. Instead of the overdone, must-have costume of the year, why not come up with a cool costume based on an era, a country or even a food that you love.

Fifties Costumes: While your youngsters may have never heard of the decade, they're sure to become instant fans in the many cool Halloween costumes from the 1950s. Girls can dress up in pink poodle skirts and sweater sets paired with bobbie socks and saddle shoes; they'll be jitterbugging the night away. Boys will look too cool for school wearing the "bad boy" look with rolled up dungarees, a white t-shirt, and slicked back pompadour wig.

Hawaiian costumes: Hawaiian costumes for children are the essence of cool costumes, not only to they look cool, they'll keep you feeling cool. Girls can dress up as traditional hula girls in grass skirts, long black wigs and colorful flower leis around the neck. Guys can go as surfers or beach bums wearing tropical swim trunks, a long sun-bleached dreadlock wig and a faux tan from a bottle!

Food costumes: Nothing will get the kids high-fiving faster than showing up to school dressed in a food costume, especially when that food is a junk-food favorite. Larger-than-life sized buckets of popcorn, sodas and slices of pizza are all favorites. An easy-to-make food costume that is always popular is a jelly bean or gumball costume. So simple, the child just stands in the center of a clear trash bag that has arm and leg openings cut out; then a helper fills up the bag with blown-up balloons in various colors!

French costumes: Costumes inspired by France will be both unique and oh-so-cool. This country is rich in history offering many choices in cool Halloween costume ideas for kids. A Can Can Dancer costume will kick up the fun for any girl with colorful ruffles and an impressive headdress or she can go more regal in the elaborate costume of Marie Antoinette. Guys can dress up as a number of historical French characters such as Napoleon in a French General costume or as Picasso in his signature black and white striped shirt a paint dappled palette in hand.