50 Best Fun (And Educational!) Halloween Costumes For Kids

Get creative this year and make it a Halloween to remember for your little one

Halloween costumes for kids
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Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday for people of all ages — a day of festivities where you get to use your creativity to dress up as somebody else for a night and indulge in some sugary treats.

For adults, Halloween may entail over-the-top costumes, alcohol-fueled partying and overall debauchery — but ultimately, Halloween is still a holiday for children who just want to dress up as their favorite superhero and eat their weight in candy as they trick-or-treat through the neighborhood.

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RELATED: 11 Cutest EVER Dad-And-Daughter Halloween Costumes

With October finally here, you may be feeling the pressure to decide on the best Halloween costume for your kid. It can become difficult to come up with unique Halloween costume ideas year after year, but with a little bit of imagination and some good supplies, you can make creative costume ideas for your kids that are affordable, easy and imaginative.

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Remember, Halloween should be a fun day for both you and your kid so don't stress too much on expensive costumes or creating insanely detailed DIY costumes — chances are whatever you come up with will be the best kids' Halloween costume because it's something you worked on together.

In addition to Halloween, be sure to take advantage of everything the Fall season has to offer your family — pumpkin patches, hay rides, corn mazes, apple picking, haunted houses, 13 Nights of Halloween — and the list goes on.

RELATED: The 13 Most Offensive Halloween Costumes Of 2017 For Kids And Adults

Here is a list of 50 best Halloween costume ideas for kids:

HISTORICAL HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

If your kids are in school why not let them dress up as one of the historical characters they are learning about in class. It’s a fun and educational way to celebrate Halloween this year. Let them choose their favorite famous figure from the past or the present and make it a learning opportunity.

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1. Forum Novelties child's Ben Franklin costume

Kids Benjamin Franklin Halloween Costume

A Benjamin Franklin wig, brown coat and vest paired with your own pants and and shoes is all you need.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

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2. Rosa Parks Halloween costume

Rosa Parks Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

3. Malcolm X Halloween costume

Malcolm X Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

4. Rubie's child's deluxe Abraham Lincoln costume

Abraham Lincoln halloween Costume

This Abe Lincoln costume includes the vest and dickie, coat, pants, bowtie, and hat - all you need to add is a dark beard.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

5. Maya Angelou Halloween costume

Maya Angelou Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

6. Frida Kahlo kids Halloween costume

Frida Kahlo kids Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

7. California Costumes Susan B. Anthony/Harriet Tubman girl costume

Harriet Tubman Girl halloween Costume

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This long black dress costume could work to represent several influential people, including Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

8. Gandhi baby Halloween costume

Gandhi baby Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

9. Roman Caesar the Great kids costume

Julius Caesar Costume

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Your kids can be Julius Caesar if you pair this kids' Halloween costume with a pair of sandals.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

10. Child Albert Einstein costume

albert einstein costume

Got a smartie pants for a kid? Pair this lab coat with a good pair of jeans and the included wig and mustache to make them into the spitting image of Albert Einstein.

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(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

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MOVIE & TV SHOW CHARACTER COSTUMES FOR KIDS

Kids love seeing movies and tv shows with kids in them. Who can relate better to kids than other kids? There are many classic movie and TV shows that you probably watched as a child, and what better way to introduce your kids to the stuff you enjoyed when you were their age then helping them dress up as your favorite characters?

Along with the time-honored shows, there are plenty of current kid-centric entertainment movie/shows as well to choose from.

1. Kids' Halloween Harry Potter dress up trunk costume

Harry Potter Costume

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Let them live their dreams of being a wizard with this adorable Harry Potter costume that comes with a hood, a wand and a trunk.

(Target, $40.00)

2. The Chronicles of Narnia Halloween costume

The Chronicles of Narnia Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

3. Stranger Things 3 Dustin's roast beef T-shirt Halloween costume

Stranger Things costume

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All you need is a curly wig to transform this cute Stranger Things T-shirt into an authentic-looking Stranger Things DIY Halloween costume.

(Target, $18.00)

4. Kids Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory costume

Kids Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Costume

Pair the purple jacket, vest and hat with a pair of black pants and a curly brown wig — and don't forget the chocolate!

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(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

5. The Little Rascals easy DIY Halloween costumes

The Little Rascals costumes for kids

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

6. The Sandlot Halloween costume

The Sandlot Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

7. IT scary Halloween costumes

IT costume for halloween

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

8. Peanuts Halloween costumes

Charlie Brown costume

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Be Charlie Brown this Halloween, yellow and black shirt and all.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

9. The Goonies Sloth costume

The Goonies Costume

The jumpsuit costume comes complete with padded muscles and diaper access.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

10. Rugrats Halloween costume

RUGRATS costume for kids

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

RELATED: 15 Matching Mother-Daughter Halloween Costume Ideas

STORYBOOK CHARACTERS

You know that book your child makes you read over and over again before bed? Well, it would make a great Halloween costume for them. Give them the opportunity to bring their favorite storybook character to life this year with a custom made costume.

1. Rainbow Fish kids Halloween costume

Rainbow Fish kids Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

2. If you Give a Mouse a Cookie Halloween costume for kids

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

3. Dr. Seuss Thing 1 & 2 costume for kids

Dr. Seuss Thing 1 & 2 Costume for Kids

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You could dress up at Cat in the Hat while your kids wear these cute Thing 1 and Thing 2 costumes, complete with red onesies and blue hair — the perfect matching family costumes!

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

4. Berenstain Bears Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

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5. The Velveteen Rabbit Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

6. The Little Prince Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

7. Disney Winnie the Pooh costume

Disney Winnie the Pooh Halloween Costume

Nothing is cuter and more cuddly than a soft, fluffy Winnie The Pooh costume for toddlers. No shoes necessary.

(Target, $36.99)

8. Leg Avenue 'Where The Wild Things Are' costume

'Where The Wild Things Are' Costume

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The classic children's story come to life with a soft onesie made especially for toddlers that's perfect (and warm) for Halloween trick-or-treating.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

9. Kids Hungry Caterpillar costume

Very Hungry Caterpillar Costume

This colorful Very Hungry Caterpillar Halloween costume is perfect for kids who are obsessed with the book by Eric Carle.

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(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

10. Curious George Halloween costume

Curious George Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

RELATED: 43 Best Halloween Movies To Keep You Busy This October

FAMOUS ARTWORK AND PAINTING HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Your child is probably not old enough to know and appreciate classic artwork, but it’s never too early to introduce them — instill a little culture into their developing brains.

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Halloween may be the perfect time to introduce some Italian Renaissance, Baroque and 19th century artistry to your child. Grab some paint a canvas and let your inner Picasso transform your little one into a work of art.

1. Mona Lisa Halloween costume

Mona Lisa costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

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2. Girl With a Pearl Earring Halloween costume

Girl With a Pearl Earring Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

3. American Gothic Halloween costume

American Gothic Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

4. The Scream Halloween costume

The Scream Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

5. Man in a Bowler Hat Halloween costume

Man in a Bowler Hat Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

6. The Two Fridas Halloween costume

Fridas Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

7. Portrait of a Lady Halloween costume

Portrait of a Lady Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

8. Bust of an Old Man with a Fur Cap Halloween costume

Bust of an Old Man with a Fur Cap Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

9. The Son of Man Halloween costume

The Son of Man Halloween costume

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

10. Infanta Margarita in a White Dress Halloween costume

White Dress Halloween costume

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

RELATED: 30 Trendy Halloween Costume Ideas To Wear For 2018

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FAMILY MATCHING HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Group Halloween costumes are always a blast to take part in and are an excellent way to get the whole family involved while spending time together this Halloween. There are an abundance of family costume ideas ranging from famous families to iconic groups in TV and entertainment.

Whatever you choose to go as this Halloween your child will be left with heartfelt family memories that will last a lifetime.

1. The Incredibles group Halloween costumes

The Incredibles group Halloween costumes

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Grab some matching Disney The Incredibles costumes and pair them up with your family to be the best superhero family in the neighborhood.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

2. The Addams Family Halloween costumes

The Addams Family Halloween costumes

Put together a Morticia Addams costume, Wednesday Addams costume, Uncle Fester costume, Pugsley and Gomez Addams costume for the creepiest family on the block.

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Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

3. The Wizard of Oz Halloween costumes

The Wizard of Oz Halloween costumes

Put together a Dorothy costume, Tin Man costume, scarecrow costume and cowardly lion costume to go trick or treating as a group.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

4. The Flintstones Halloween costumes

The Flintstones Halloween costumes

Pair a Fred Flinstone costume with Wilma Flinstone, Pebbles and Bam-Bam for a stone-aged family costume.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

5. The Fairly OddParents matching Halloween costumes

The Fairly OddParents halloween costumes

Be the most magical family trick-or-treating this year by making easy DIY costumes of Wanda, Cosmo and Timmy Turner. You could even add in some of the other characters for a bigger family, including Poof, Vicky and the Crimson Chin.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

6. Beetlejuice Halloween costumes

Beetlejuice Halloween costumes

If you want to scare the heck out of your neighbors, just go together as the characters from Beetlejuice — especially a Barbara mask.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

7. Toy Story Halloween costumes

Toy story costumes

For a sweeter family costume, pair together a Buzz Lightyear costume with a Woody costume, Little Bo-Peep costume and Jessie costume.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

8. The Avengers group Halloween costumes

avengers costumes for kids

If your family is a big fan of the Avengers, then there's no more perfect Halloween costume ideas than to pair each Avengers costume together. Try dressing mom up in a Black Widow costume, put dad in a cool Iron Man costume, then let the kids take their pick of a Captain America costume, Thor costume, Hulk costume, Clint Barton costume or a variety of other characters that represent the superhero series.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews at Walmart.

9. Grease Halloween costumes

GREASE costume pink ladies jacket

Dressing your family up as the characters from Grease is super easy if you have the right DIY supplies. With a Pink Ladies jacket, poodle skirt and some leather, you'll be Sandy, Danny Zuko, Kenickie, Frenchie or Rizzo in no time.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

10. Bob’s Burgers family Halloween costumes.

Bob's burgers costume

Dressing up for Halloween couldn't be more simple than pairing some Bob's Burgers costumes together to make a matching family costume. All you need is a few colored T-shirts and a pink ear hat, maybe some burgers and you're good to go.

Find the accessories you need, pricing, and reviews on Amazon.

RELATED: The Best DIY Halloween Costume For You, Based On Your Personality Type

Katana Dumont is a writer who covers pop culture and astrology articles.

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