'Nuther Halloween Question

[Josiegirl]

Do you have the dcks bring their costumes and dress up?
I always have but honestly, it's kind of a pita. Some of the kids don't want to wear them, you have to keep taking them on and off when you eat, play messy or go outside, change diapers, then there's the fear their costume will get dirty or damaged, it really is a pain.
I used to take lots of pictures for the parents but I don't even have a camera this year. So what is the point?
Maybe I'm trying to talk myself out of it this year. I have tons of dress-up here they could use, even a bunch of costumes.

[KSDC]

I don't have them bring costumes from home. I don't want to worry about them getting messed up here before they get to trick or treat with their families.

We do play with our dress up clothes all week. We even practice trick or treating to help them get used to saying "Thank You".

I also send out a note inviting the parents to Trick or Treat at my house. I let them know what time I plan on taking my own children out, so that they can make it to my door before I am gone. That way I get to see them all dressed up without having to be in charge of dressing them!

[Blackcat31]

Do you have the dcks bring their costumes and dress up?
I always have but honestly, it's kind of a pita. Some of the kids don't want to wear them, you have to keep taking them on and off when you eat, play messy or go outside, change diapers, then there's the fear their costume will get dirty or damaged, it really is a pain.
I used to take lots of pictures for the parents but I don't even have a camera this year. So what is the point?
Maybe I'm trying to talk myself out of it this year. I have tons of dress-up here they could use, even a bunch of costumes.

I used to allow costumes. Had a big party etc.

It got to be too much of a hassle when parents allowed costumes that required face painting, glitter or some other act of magic to get the costume on properly. Other issues included way too much blood and gore than I was comfortable with in a under Kindy aged program...kwim?

Now, since Halloween is my birthday I just close for the day, warn parents about sending their child the next day with a candy induced hangover and call it good.

This year I can skip the lecture about the candy hangover since Halloween falls on a Friday.

HTH

[Play Care]

This year I have said NO! happyface
We will be making masks and I will take pictures of that.
Last year was AWFUL. Mostly boys with superhero costumes.
They would NOT stop trying to beat the tar out of each other.
One boy lost a part of the costume and it could not be found. Because he was a neighbor every time we ran into them while out TOT'ing, I heard "have you found my glove yet Mrs. K?!" Thankfully his mother told him to knock it off::
So this year no to costumes (and I think parents will be relieved) and I am closing early (4:00) so I will only have one hour to get through::

(ETA: We've done costumes for years. Only in the last couple of years was it more of a pain)

[melilley]

I have them bring their costume and we put them on after nap, which is when we have our party and either take them off after the party or they keep them on until parents come, depending on the child. I only have up to 6 kids so it's fairly easy for me to do.

[laloolee]

Costume Party

We are going to try making a costume that Friday on Halloween. I haven't ironed out the details but may use large paper brown bags from the grocer and have the kids decorate their vests with felt and acrylic fast drying paint. Perhaps you could do something similar and tell parents they don't need to worry about messing up their own costumes during play that day because you're making dress ups for craft at your party. You could request that they wear orange and/or black if you want to snap a quick picture of them as a group with your phone.

[KiddieCahoots]

Yes, but only for about the first couple of hours, then they come off.
I love getting pictures!
Some of the parents go all out! That's when I sometimes get kids that are so bulked down by their costume I have to change them quickly after the pictures, or they sit there all catatonic like. ::.....

[CraftyMom]

After nap they can put their costume on. I do not do makeup. Our party is after nap, they keep them on until they leave. If the parent wants to take it off they can do it

[hope]

I have a collection of Halloween costumes that my own children grew out of and that are too nice to put in the dress up collection. I have the kids dress up in these costumes and we make our own parade and walk around the block. My neighbors probably think I'm nuts because I do this on the day before Halloween. I am closed for Halloween because I want to go to my DD'S school for her party and I don't want to worry about late pick ups that day. I can only imagine how many parents wait till the last minute to buy candy or costumes and would make me wait.

[CraftyMom]

I can only imagine how many parents wait till the last minute to buy candy or costumes and would make me wait.

I'm closing early at 3:00. Last year I had a parent with "car trouble" who was an hour and a half late! (If that were now I would have called backups after joining this forum, lesson learned) anyway I was furious! We were meeting up with friends and we were late, I was irritated all night because of it.

[Sunchimes]

I don't do costumes here-I tell them it is a special thing to do with their parents. I do invite the parents to get their kids ready at my house. The church across the street does a HUGE trunk or treat. They can dress the kids here, it's a lot of fun and we laugh a lot. Of course, I only have 3 families. Then they can get to the church early, before the big kids and crowds arrive. Then I put on my costume, and by the time they get back, they can trick or treat here and head up the block. Because of the church, we get huge crowds on our street. I gave out over 600 pieces last year.

I always make special treat bags for past kids and siblings when they come by. We used to decorate and practice, etc., but this year I have two non-verbal kids and an infant. None of them will understand what is happening, so I won't do much.

[mskaykay]

We allow children to come already in costume and party first thing in the morning and then change the children out of their costumes by 10:30 am. We also encourage everyone to come in last years costume or a Halloween shirt or something else special that way their current costumes don't get ruined. Parents bring clothes in a brown paper bag and the costume goes right into the same bag. No change of clothes, no stay.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I just dislike Halloween altogether. We do nothing special except for some "friendly pumpkin" crafts and some pumpkin shaped cookies for snacks. Costumes are expressly BANNED..Maybe I'm just bah humbug, but I don't think Halloween is cute or fun..

[Rockgirl]

No costumes here, for reasons already mentioned. We'll make monster masks.....they've really gotten into "Where the Wild Things Are", so they'll be in that style. That's it!

[Blackcat31]

I just dislike Halloween altogether. We do nothing special except for some "friendly pumpkin" crafts and some pumpkin shaped cookies for snacks. Costumes are expressly BANNED..Maybe I'm just bah humbug, but I don't think Halloween is cute or fun..

:hug: I usually get funny looks when I express my dislike of Halloween.

Glad to know I am not alone.