With Halloween just around the corner, our house is abuzz with costume talk. I have two kids – a girl and a boy – and they have dressed in matching Halloween costumes for eleven years straight. I guess it all started when my 5-year-old daughter wanted to be an astronaut and my 10-month-old son went along for the trick-or-treating in his space shuttle wagon. We haven’t looked back since.
Every year, my kids start brainstorming in August what they might be when October rolls around. It always starts as a long list of everything and anything they can think of. Slowly, they whittle the list down. Some ideas go out of style, some are deemed by them (or me) to be too involved or expensive, and some they just both don’t agree on. But every year, after much discussion, they finally come up with the perfect idea.
I used to think the only good “sibling” costumes were Disney characters or Thing 1 and Thing 2. But there are many creative ideas out there that are easy to make at home and are much more creative.
Here are just a few ideas from over the years for sibling (or matching) Halloween costumes for boys and girls of every age.
1. Astronaut/Shuttle Commander/Mission Control
We created a paper mache helmet and turned our red wagon into a space shuttle with a little cardboard and paint. Mom and Dad played mission control in khakis and a polo shirt.
2. Hunters
We dressed in camo clothing and carried duck callers. You could add face paint, beards, and hunting caps if you like.
3. Minions
We shopped goodwill for overalls and created our own minion hats from red solo cups and dollar/craft store construction hats. Mom and Dad played Gru (get a bald cap) and Olivia Wild (just need a rain/overcoat and a lipstick tazer of course).
4. Superheroes
We did this one several times. Batman, Captain America, they all work! Tule skirts and Dollar Store or felt masks always make the costume better.
5. Scarecrows
We used clothes we had – jeans, rain boots, and flannel or button shirts. Be sure to pick up some face paint crayons at your local Dollar Store or Walmart. These will add the perfect finishing touches.
6. Robbers
Easiest and cheapest costume yet! Striped shirts come in all sizes and can be found all over in the Fall months. Any black pants will work. We picked up black beanie hats and gloves at our Dollar Store. Top it all off with an old pillowcase and you are set.
7. Cowboys
We used clothes we had (again). Jeans and boots. Bandanas and hats can be purchased at your local Dollar Store or craft store. We also made a quick vest of felt for my son to wear – easy to sew or even glue together.
8. Knights and Ladies
My son loved this! Swords and armor can be made from cardboard, foam board, or even paper.
9. Book Characters
We chose Harry Potter and used large T-shirts from our local craft store as cloaks and made ties and scarves from inexpensive felt that we glued together. Glasses can be purchased or made from pipe cleaners and dowel rods or chopsticks make great wands.
10. Garden Gnomes
This is our plan for this year. We are using many things around the house as well like felt for the hats, cotton balls, some old silk flowers, and my favorite hot glue gun. Oh, don’t forget the apron for my girl gnome and some suspenders for my boy.
Matching Halloween costumes don’t have to be predictable, boring, difficult, or expensive. Be creative with items around the house, have fun, and remember that the Dollar Store and local craft store are your friends. Start the sibling costume idea list now and you will be all set to hit the streets trick-or-treating on Halloween!
