- Don’t let the kids decide – they will come up with all sorts of impossible costumes
- Look in the dressing up box first – use old costumes as a start to making a new one
- Start with Pyjamas – the Darlings from Peter Pan, Sophie from BFG
- Start with an Animal costume – Cat in the Hat, Fantastic Mr Fox, Aslan,
- Start with a School uniform – St Trinians, Hogwarts,
- Start with a Striped jumper – Dennis The Menace, Where’s Wally, Horrid Henry
- Start with Accessories – Striped tights (Pippi Longstocking), Plastic bucket filled with toys (Harry and his bucketful of dinosaurs), a basket and a red cloak (Little Red Riding Hood), red hat, red scarf, duffle coat and small suitcase (Paddington Bear)
- Try to encourage your child to be original and not to copy others as this will make their costume stand out.
- Be creative with card – use boxes to make the Tin Man costume or make a giant tabard and paint it gold and go as the golden ticket from Charlie & The Chocolate factory.
- Think Harry Potter – a magic wand made from black and white card, a cloak and face paints, an old broomstick