Animals

• Animals are an endless source of curiosity and enjoyment for children. Many different costumes can be created easily at home. Using regular clothes, dress the child in a solid color. For example, a cat costume might require all black clothing, a puppy may be all brown and a butterfly may be all pink for the body. After this basic color is established, accessories are all that are needed.
  
  Cat and dog costumes can be easily completed with ears, whiskers, a nose and a tail. This can be accomplished with a headband that has ears fashioned out of colored paper attached, a long piece of fabric for the tail and face paint.
  
  Butterflies require wings and antennae. Antennae can be made from a hat or headband with silly straws attached. Wings can be purchased or created at home with firm cardboard decorated with paint and other brightly colored objects.
  
  

Professions

• Children love to imitate adults, and even at early ages aspire to be productive citizens in different roles. Some children are entranced by teachers, others by firefighters, some by farmers and many by sports stars. Creating a costume that honors this dream might be very pleasing to a child.
  
  For a clown costume, dress a child in baggy clothing with a colorful hat. Decorate with patches, and dress the child in a pair of shoes that are too big for them. Face paint is a must for any successful clown costume.
  
  Farmers wear plaid shirts, overalls and a hat or bandanna. For accessories, consider allowing the child to pull a red wagon around with stuffed animals inside.
  
  Sports stars are easily recreated out of easily accessible clothing such as jerseys, shorts, knee socks, shin pads and sweatbands. Sport-related equipment, such as balls, make simple accessories.
  
  

Mythical Creatures

• Fairies, mermaids, ghosts and goblins are popular with imaginative children. Although a ghost costume is certainly easiest, all of these can be easily assembled at home.
  
  For a fairy, dress the child in a ballerina-style outfit with a tutu and ballerina shoes. Attach a simple pair of wings, whether purchased or homemade from cardboard and paint. A tiara and wand can complete the costume.
  
  Mermaids are also easy to create. Using brightly colored fabric, wrap the child in a long skirt that trails after her or in a short skirt that splits into "fins" right above the feet to prevent tripping. This can create the illusion of fins while still allowing the child to walk. The top of the costume can be made from a similarly colored T-shirt or from a skin-shade T-shirt with fabric paint.