How to get more mileage out of the Halloween costume

Weather you purchase your child's costume, make it yourself, or have it made, we all want to see them wear that costume more than once. But how to you get them to wear it again without making them wear it to the grocery store? Here are my tips:

1. Pumpkin Patch. Have your child wear their costume to the pumpkin patch when you go to choose your pumpkins. Make sure to dress in rain boots so that the costume doesn't get muddy. It's also a good time for a photo op.

2. Pictures. Have a photo session with your favorite photographer or studio or your own camera! You can choose fun fall backgrounds, or go to your favorite park that has colourful leaves all over the ground.

3. Halloween at the Mall. Take your child to your local mall on Halloween afternoon. Most malls will have trick or treating from 1-4 (check your local mall's website). It's a warm up to the night time event, but still fun for little ones to practice saying trick or treat.

4. Party! Have a halloween party with the young kids in your child's class, or with the kids in your neighborhood a week or so before Halloween. Costumes mandatory!

5. Get the costume a size too big. If you get the costume a touch big, they can wear it for dress up during the year, or if they decide to be the same thing next year, no problem!

Remember to enjoy the Halloween season. Dress up, be a bit goofy, carve magnificent pumpkins, and remember to be safe out in the dark, and to check the candy before letting your kids eat any of it. Most younger families will start trick or treating around 5:30 or 6:00pm to end before 8:00.

Boo!