So you’ve decided to plan a kids’ costume party, but you’re stuck on ideas? Don’t stress. The first step to hosting a memorable costume party is to choose a theme that people are familiar with, and which reflects your children’s personal tastes and interests.
Pull this off, and your guests will have a much easier time preparing their costume. And you will have a clear point of reference to plan the event around such as the venue, decorations, food and beverages, entertainment, and music.
Here are 6 great kids costume party ideas to inspire your imagination:
Pirate Theme
A classic theme that’s always a hit with parents and children alike. Everyone knows what a pirate looks like, so it’s easy to create an authentic pirate costume or buy one online. All you really need is an eyepatch, long coat or skirt, bandana (or pirate hat), fake plastic sword, belt, and boots – then you’re good to go.
Head to your local party supplies store to stock up on pirate-themed decorations. You’ll find everything you need to spruce up the venue from flags and skulls to goblets, treasure chests, fake cannons and barrels. You can also adorn the venue with nets and cover the tables with plain white sheets for added effect.
For entertainment, why not have a scavenger hunt? Print out multiple copies of a leaflet that contains clues as to the whereabouts of different ‘treasure.’ If you’re really creative, you can even give guests a treasure map in the shape of the venue.
Disney Theme
Has your child ever wanted to be a Disney princess? Perhaps you have always dreamed of dressing up the family as The Incredibles? Now you can with a Disney themed costume party.
You can base the party on just one Disney franchise or all of them. Either way, guests will have no problem choosing an iconic character they want to dress up as. And it will be easy to find a high quality and affordable costume online.
Don’t forget to decorate the venue to suit the theme. For example, if you’re hosting a Frozen-themed event, give the venue a cool ‘glacial’ feel by using white table cloths and dinnerware, blue and white balloons, gentle light blue lighting, and a plethora of merchandise based on the film.
Superhero Theme
Nearly every child wants to grow up and be a superhero. And nearly every adult wishes they had grown up to be a superhero. So, by hosting a superhero-themed costume party, you can make everyone’s dream come true.
Most people have a favourite superhero. For this reason, keep the theme ‘general’ so the children and guests can dress up as the exact person they want to be. And don’t forget to leave the invitation open to supervillains too!
If you plan on making the costume yourself follow these safety tips. Keep the lengths of capes relatively short to prevent trip hazards. Instead of wearing masks – which can limit your child’s field of view and their ability to breathe – make the switch to face paint. Plus, make sure you know exactly how much work is involved to create the costume before you commit to the idea; or else you risk losing valuable time and money.
And if all else fails? Save yourself the trouble and shop online.
Sports Theme
Whether your child dreams of being a professional racer, basketballer, tennis player, cheerleader or boxer, they are guaranteed to win the hearts of adoring fans with an authentic sports costume.
If your children are already part of a sporting club, use their uniform to serve as the basis of their costume. For example, if your child already has a basketball singlet and shorts, you can enhance the look with a sweatband, long novelty socks, and a wig to match their favourite basketball star.
For entertainment, you could have the party outdoors and have guests play a rousing game of cricket, soccer, basketball, or anything else they desire.
Roaring 20s Theme
Step back in time to the age of gangsters, the flapper, and the rise of jazz music.
You’ll find an inspiring range of 20s style children’s costumes either online or at your local costume store. For guys, you cannot go wrong with a sleek pinstripe suit or the working-class look of the chimney sweeper boy. For girls, there are plenty of flapper-style costumes that feature lavish headpieces, necklaces, beads, skirts and gloves.
To transform the venue into a roaring 20s venue, put on some upbeat jazz music and dim the lights. For the tables, lay down a clean white cloth, adorn each surface with some fake jewellery, and fill a few vases with plain white feathers.
Spooky Theme
Got a child whose birthday is close to Halloween? Enjoy the best of both worlds with a combined birthday/Halloween costume party.
You know the score. Ghosts, zombies, mummies, witches, vampires, and skeletons. Almost anything goes! But if the party is for young children, let guests know in advance to keep the scare factor ‘low’ so as not to give kids any nightmares.
For venue decorations, you can purchase or create your own spooky decorations like fake fingers, skeletons, goblets with hands for handles, candles, fake bloody handprints, pumpkins, cauldrons, and much more.
