October Eco-Activity: Creative Costumes!!
Eco-Friendly Halloween Costumes: Fun, Sustainable, and Kid-Approved 🎃
Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for kids (and let’s be honest—for grown-ups too!). But with all the costumes, accessories, and decorations, it can also be one of the most wasteful holidays. The good news? With a little creativity, you can keep the fun and lower the impact. Here are a few sustainable ways to dress up this spooky season—plus ideas that kids can help make!
Cardboard Creations
Cardboard is one of the easiest, cheapest, and most versatile materials to turn into a costume. With a few scissors, paint, and imagination, kids can transform into:
Train Engine: A painted box with straps over the shoulders = instant Thomas vibes.
Crown or Hat: Cut from thin cardboard, decorate with crayons, stickers, or foil.
Animal Masks: Draw and cut out ears, whiskers, or beaks, then attach string or tape to a headband.
Butterfly Wings: Big flat cardboard pieces painted bright colors and tied on with string.
Book Characters:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Keep it super simple with a red headband with cardboard eyes glued on and a few green cardboard “segments” taped to a shirt (like big spots).
Pete the Cat: A simple cardboard guitar painted bright red to wear with blue clothes.
Kids can color, paint, and decorate these themselves—keeping the project as fun as the costume.
Shop Secondhand
One of the most eco-friendly choices is to keep costumes in circulation by buying secondhand. Thrift stores, swap groups, and even hand-me-downs from friends can turn up some real treasures.
💡 Local Tip: Rutabaga is hosting a Secondhand Costume Sale this October! Stop by to find affordable, gently used costumes for kids (and adults), and give last year’s outfits a second chance to shine. Not only does this reduce waste, it also supports our community and keeps Halloween fun accessible for all.
Get Creative with What You Have at Home
Sometimes the best costumes are the simplest ones—no shopping required. Look around your house and see what you can put together:
Sports star: Jersey + hat + face paint.
Chef: Apron + spoon + a pot to carry candy.
Ghost: A sheet with cut-out eyes (a classic for a reason).
Fruit: Solid color outfit with drawn on details and a hat with a stem or leaves
Rainbow Fish: Shiny clothes, or tape foil “scales” onto a shirt.
Madeline: Blue dress or coat, red bow, and white knee socks.
Where’s Waldo: Red-and-white striped shirt, beanie, and round glasses.
Corduroy Bear: Green overalls (or any overalls) with a little bear ear headband.
Encourage your kids to help brainstorm—they’ll be surprised how much fun it is to turn everyday items into something magical.
Halloween doesn’t have to come at the cost of our planet. By crafting with cardboard, shopping secondhand, and reimagining what’s already at home, you can keep costumes fun, creative, and sustainable. Plus, kids get to be part of the process—which makes the costume (and the memories) even better.
👻 Happy haunting, and we’ll see you at Rutabaga’s Costume Sale!
— The Rutabaga Toy Library Team 🌈🖌️
