Your child picked a Halloween costume — and then decided they didn’t like it. Yes, it’s annoying and yes, it’s a common issue.
“Some children change their minds about costumes once a week or go back and forth between three different options,” Francyne Zeltser, clinical director of mental health & testing services at Manhattan Psychology Group, tells TODAY.com. “The question is, how much time do you have to make a final decision and what other options do you have?”
Blame the indecision on Halloween prep starting earlier and earlier each year.
“For many consumers, Halloween is synonymous with fall and they are ready to start shopping as soon as summer ends,” Katherine Cullen, vice president of industry and consumer insights at the National Retail Federation, tells TODAY.com. “Last year, 47% of those celebrating said they planned to start shopping for Halloween items in September or earlier, compared with just 37% in 2018.”
This year, Spirit Halloween opened its flagship store on Aug. 11 — when many schools had not even started.
“Enthusiasts are picking out multiple costumes each season, shopping for costumes and decor earlier and earlier, and attending multiple celebrations,” a spokesperson from Spirit Halloween tells TODAY.com.
Zeltser adds that the ease of online shopping makes ordering a costume (or two or three) and returning or exchanging on a whim easier, compared to Halloweens in the past when it meant a full trip to a costume store.
Here’s how parents can guide children toward a choice they’re happy with and save themselves the hassle.
Start thinking about Halloween costumes early
If your kid develops specific interest in a television show, video game or historical character, write it down, as it could inspire a costume idea, suggests Zeltser.
Then, six weeks before Halloween, revisit the list with your child to gauge their enthusiasm. Kids might also vet costume ideas with people whose opinions they value, like siblings or friends.
Help narrow the list by asking: Do you want a funny, cute or scary theme? Is it more important to match your friends or look different? Do you prefer a store-bought or homemade costume?
Zeltser says kids can visualize by looking at screenshots or printed photos of different costumes. Otherwise, some AI tools have “head swap” options to place an image of your child’s head on a model wearing the costume of their choice.
Try on Halloween costumes ASAP
Whether you have the bandwidth to visit a Halloween store 47 times or spend hours online shopping is up to you.
When your child does choose a costume, have them wear it around the house, to make sure the look and fit is comfortable.
Zeltser suggests keeping weather in mind — does your kid need to wear a coat over or under their costume or trade a prop for an umbrella?
If kids are stuck between two options, consider a backup costume. That doesn’t always mean purchasing a second costume, as you may still have last year’s get-up, a hand-me-down, or can cobble a costume together with items in your closet.
Zeltser points out that Halloween is typically celebrated all month long — with school celebrations, town festivals and house parties — creating multiple opportunities to wear different costumes and preserve those memories in photos.
Help kids make peace with their costume choice
What happens if your kid makes a final choice and they’re still unhappy?
Sometimes the only conclusion is, “We have a costume, you can either wear it or your backup,” says Zeltser.
Explain that costumes aren’t the only Halloween tradition — it’s also about staying out with friends, catching a spooky thrill and eating candy.
“Setting reasonable and realistic expectations are important,” says Zeltser. “Costumes can tear, weather can be lousy, neighbors can run out of candy and someone will not win the best costume award. Remember that it’s not a situation itself that leads to disappointment, rather the child’s interpretation of it.”
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
- All Hail This 7-Year-Old With the Greatest Mullet We’ve Ever Seen
- Who is ‘Coop on a Stoop’? Why People Can’t Get Enough of this 1-Year-Old’s Morning Routine
- She Ran Barefoot Toward the Minneapolis School Shooting. Her Image Is Seared in Parents’ Hearts
from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/ZieWy6s
No comments:
Post a Comment