My 8-year-old is crazy excited for Halloween. She’s got her costume picked out, her plastic pumpkin’s ready to be filled, heck, she’s even created a list of “Most Wanted Candy,” with estimations on how long her stash of free sweets will last if she devours four/five/six pieces per day.
Meanwhile, my neighbor’s two children are at that “in-between” stage in regards to All Hallows’ Eve. They love the idea of getting mountains of candy, but are not as enthused about going door-to-door to gather it. They’d much prefer having it delivered to them a la the Dominos guy, as they sit home in front of the TV playing video games and watching gory holiday flicks.
My neighbor is anticipating a night-of decision in regards to whether or not her kids will go trick-or-treating. We’ve had the how-old-is-too-old-to-dress-up-as-a- ninja-in-order-to-score-free-sugar discussion and she decided that her tweens are still at the age where it’s acceptable to hit up houses for Laffy Taffy.
The problem is finding acceptable costumes for them to do the deed. My neighbor’s 12-year-old is planning to wear a white shirt with the words: “This is my costume” painted on the front. Meanwhile, her 11-year-old son, who doesn’t think it’s “cool” to dress-up, is contemplating painting his face, so he doesn’t have to commit to a full getup.
Personally, I think face paint is an ideal option for in-betweens who don’t want to go all out in the costume department. Not only is it affordable (you can find a super cheap DIY recipe here), it’s also safe and allows you to flex your creative muscle. In addition, you can enhance the look by using eye shadows, blush and eyeliner that you already have at home. If you don’t want your kids using your good supplies, simply visit a Dollar Store and pick-up cheap make-up that can be crushed and mixed together with homemade face paint.
Just remember to start with a clean face before starting your child’s transformation. Any moisture can cause face paint to slip off skin. It’s best to begin with a light application of paint and add more as needed. If you go heavy from the start you may experience clumping.
Whether you want to look scary or sweet, face paint provides the opportunity to experiment and create a variety of different looks. Just be sure to test out the paint on a small area of your child’s skin before you go whole hog to avoid allergic reactions.
Related Articles:
Halloween, the Economy and Your Family
Do Your Teens Still Go Trick-or-Treating?
Parental Bargaining on Halloween
Parents Who Don’t Give Out Candy on Halloween
Halloween Candy Competition Among Parents