Halloween costumes are a great way to foster a child’s creativity, but a costume can quickly become excessively wasteful or costly for a single night’s excitement. Instead of purchasing a ready-made Halloween costume, encourage your child to make part or all of her costume in an eco-friendly manner.
There was a time when Halloween was more organic. Children used materials and objects around the house to make their own costumes. Parents spent hours making their own treats to give out to their visitors and pumpkins were sometimes even grown at home. This is all a thing of the past, but it doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.
Use a costume you already have or make your own
Use materials such as card board, paper and foil. These materials can be reused again and again or just as easily recycled. Many awesome costumes can be made from these materials. Use old clothing to create era related costumes. This helps to recycle old, out-of-style clothing that is probably sitting in your closet, waiting for another chance at life. Use materials around the house like bed sheets, table cloths and pillow cases. This helps to re-use old house hold items that are meeting their final days of use. If you don’t want to make something of your own then buy something from an ethical costume company.
Splurge a little while staying within your eco-friendly boundaries and buy a used costume from a thrift store. Try this new and fun social activity that can help make a difference and save resources. Get together with your friends, neighbors or community and gather a group of people and trade costumes. This will ensure the full life of a costume and continuous use. Invest in props that can be reused for multiple costumes over multiple years. Swords, capes and belts can be used to complete multiple costumes as your children grow. Look for costumes that can be altered from past Halloweens and other projects.
Instead of turning on every light in your house, use your opened, used cans for exciting and even elegant décor. Take the labels off, punch holes in each can try funny or scary faces or simple patterns and place an organic soy or beeswax candle inside. Wait until you see the amazing lights and lanterns you have created when you light them up.