Whether they're going trick or treating, to a Halloween party or just apple bobbing at home, they all require fancy dress.
Here's a little bit of inspiration before you head off on your Halloween costume shop, with plenty of ideas that go beyond the usual witch, cat and devil ideas.
Do they fancy being a zombie bride? Haunted doll? Frankenstein? No problem.
Halloween Costumes For Kids: The Best Fancy Dress Ideas
Bloody Skeleton(01 of15)
In a more gory take on a skeleton, this all-in-one outfit with a matching mask is slightly graphic but brilliantly scary.
£10. From age 3 upwards. www.peacocks.co.uk.
£10. From age 3 upwards. www.peacocks.co.uk.
Zombie Superhero(02 of15)
Apparently there is such thing as a zombie superhero and this budget costume has everything you need including the suit, cape and matching bloody mask.
£10. From ages 3 upwards. www.peacocks.co.uk.
£10. From ages 3 upwards. www.peacocks.co.uk.
Gothic Bride(03 of15)
We love this original take on a goth costume, with an all in white dress and matching headband.
£10. From ages 3 upwards. www.peacocks.co.uk.
£10. From ages 3 upwards. www.peacocks.co.uk.
Miss Matched Witch(04 of15)
If your child isn't too keen on going all grim and gory, this colourful take on a witch's costume might be much more appealing.
£18.99. From ages 3-8. www.partydelights.co.uk.
£18.99. From ages 3-8. www.partydelights.co.uk.
Zombie Miss Hood(05 of15)
Little Red Riding Hood... but with a twist. This costume is a two-piece set with a gingham dress and satin hooded cape.
You'll need some paint and make up for the full effect, though.
£8.99. From ages 7-12. www.partydelights.co.uk.
You'll need some paint and make up for the full effect, though.
£8.99. From ages 7-12. www.partydelights.co.uk.
Mummy(06 of15)
This costume has a visible fake stomach and random droplets of blood but is a simple two-piece set.
Far easier than trying to wrap your child in toilet paper.£30.99. Ages 5 upwards. www.smiffys.com.
Far easier than trying to wrap your child in toilet paper.£30.99. Ages 5 upwards. www.smiffys.com.
Werewolf(07 of15)
The werewolf all-in-one suit comes with a mask to match and fur-like details on the legs and neck line.
£12. From age 7 upwards. www.direct.asda.com.
£12. From age 7 upwards. www.direct.asda.com.
Pink Monster(08 of15)
Steering away from the theme of black and red, this monster costume is much more cute than scary.
£8. From ages 1 upwards. www.direct.asda.com.
£8. From ages 1 upwards. www.direct.asda.com.
Frankenstein(09 of15)
We're big fans of this green and grey Frankenstein costume with big gloves to make your child's hands look huge.
The top is mocked up to look like a jacket, top and belt and it comes with a foam mask. The chest and gloves are "padded" to give a muscle effect.
£12. From aged 4 upwards. www.matalan.co.uk.
The top is mocked up to look like a jacket, top and belt and it comes with a foam mask. The chest and gloves are "padded" to give a muscle effect.
£12. From aged 4 upwards. www.matalan.co.uk.
Prom Queen(10 of15)
The creepy prom queen seems to be a popular option for kid's costumes this year, and this black and purple number gets our vote.
Let your child dress up like a princess with a Halloween twist. Includes the tiara, gloves and sash too.
£12. From ages 6 upwards. www.matalan.co.uk.
Let your child dress up like a princess with a Halloween twist. Includes the tiara, gloves and sash too.
£12. From ages 6 upwards. www.matalan.co.uk.
Glow In The Dark Skeleton(11 of15)
It's one thing to have a skeleton costume, but it's a completely new ball game when it's glow in the dark.
This fleecy onesie has a glow in the dark print on the front and glowing mask.
£8. From ages 2 upwards. www.colthingattesco.com.
This fleecy onesie has a glow in the dark print on the front and glowing mask.
£8. From ages 2 upwards. www.colthingattesco.com.
Bat(12 of15)
Simple, yet effective. The hooded cape has bag wings like ears and can be put over any dark clothing.
£9.99. From ages 4-12. www.fancydress.com.
£9.99. From ages 4-12. www.fancydress.com.
Ghost Spirit (13 of15)
This all-white ghost costume comes with a hooded coat, a white dress made from white frayed fabric and a white wig.
It's a step-up from simply chucking a sheet over your child!
£14.99. Comes in small, medium or large. www.escapade.co.uk.
It's a step-up from simply chucking a sheet over your child!
£14.99. Comes in small, medium or large. www.escapade.co.uk.
Haunted Doll(14 of15)
As long as it won't make your children worry about their own dolls in their toy box, this creepy costume is a spooky winner.
The outfit comes with a black wig, white leggings, half a doll mask and the puffy-sleeve desk.
£37.49. Comes in small, medium, large and extra large for children. www.joke.co.uk.
The outfit comes with a black wig, white leggings, half a doll mask and the puffy-sleeve desk.
£37.49. Comes in small, medium, large and extra large for children. www.joke.co.uk.
Zombie Nurse(15 of15)
This blood-stained nurse costume comes with a dress, apron and nurse's hat - creepy make up will add to the effect.
£11.95. From ages 3 upwards. www.a2z-kids.co.uk.
£11.95. From ages 3 upwards. www.a2z-kids.co.uk.
SEE ALSO:
Halloween Costumes For Babies: Best Fancy Dress Ideas
Claudia Winkleman's Fancy Dress Campaign Success: Supermarkets Raise Safety Standards
Halloween History
Halloween originated from the Celtic festival of Samhain. (01 of09)
Over 2,000 years ago, the Celts celebrated the end of the harvest season on Oct. 31. They believed that on that night, ghosts of the dead returned to earth to wreak havoc on their crops and possess the living.
What did they do to ward off the ghosts? Dress up in animal heads and skins to entertain and confuse the spirits, naturally. (credit:Giphy)
What did they do to ward off the ghosts? Dress up in animal heads and skins to entertain and confuse the spirits, naturally. (credit:Giphy)
We can thank the Romans for that whole bobbing for apples thing.(02 of09)
Put your whole face in a bucket of water, they said. It'll be fun, they said. THANKS FOR NOTHING, ROMANS.
Around 43 A.D., once the Romans had conquered Celtic territory, they took the festival of Samhain and combined it with two of their own festivals: Feralia, a day to remember the dead, and the festival of Pomona, a day to celebrate the goddess whose symbol was the apple. Fast forward a few thousand years, and now we're bobbing for those damn things. (credit:Giphy)
Around 43 A.D., once the Romans had conquered Celtic territory, they took the festival of Samhain and combined it with two of their own festivals: Feralia, a day to remember the dead, and the festival of Pomona, a day to celebrate the goddess whose symbol was the apple. Fast forward a few thousand years, and now we're bobbing for those damn things. (credit:Giphy)
The word Halloween comes from the Middle English word "Alholowmesse."(03 of09)
By 609 A.D., the Catholics wanted in on the spooky action. Pope Boniface created All Martyrs Day, which would eventually evolve to become All Saints' Day, celebrated on Nov. 1. Catholics incorporated many elements of the Celtic holiday of Samhain by celebrating with costumes and bonfires ( a thinly veiled attempt to convert the Celtic pagans to Christianity).
The new, fusion holiday was also known as All-hallows (derived from Alholowmeesse, or All Saints' Day in Middle English), therefore the night before became All-hallows Eve, and then Halloween. (credit:Giphy)
The new, fusion holiday was also known as All-hallows (derived from Alholowmeesse, or All Saints' Day in Middle English), therefore the night before became All-hallows Eve, and then Halloween. (credit:Giphy)
Americans weren't too jazzed about Halloween... at first.(04 of09)
In the early colonies, rigid Protestant beliefs precluded the holiday from taking hold. BUZZ KILL.
But when the Irish Potato Famine sent an influx of Irish (Catholic) immigrants to the America, Halloween gained some traction. In the late 1800s, Americans began dressing up, going door to door for treats, and celebrating within their communities. (credit:Giphy)
But when the Irish Potato Famine sent an influx of Irish (Catholic) immigrants to the America, Halloween gained some traction. In the late 1800s, Americans began dressing up, going door to door for treats, and celebrating within their communities. (credit:Giphy)
Eventually, we came around; Halloween is now America's 2nd largest commercial holiday. (05 of09)
Halloween's popularity went through ebbs and flows in the U-S-of-A. The holiday lost popularity in the '20s and '30s when young hooligans started using Halloween as an excuse to commit vandalism. By the 1950s, town leaders curbed vandalism and focused celebrations on school-aged children. Trick-or-treating's popularity grew and helped make the holiday second only to Christmas, commercially. (credit:Giphy)
Just how commercial you ask? Americans spend a cool $6 billion each year on Halloween.(06 of09)
Approximately $4 billion is spent annually on costumes, decorations and parties. Candy consumption alone makes up $2 billion. The candy industry makes a quarter of the year's revenue during Halloween alone. (credit:Imgur)
The astronomical amount of money spent on candy is no fluke.(07 of09)
Not by a long shot. In 1985, the Senate held hearings on daylight saving time. Candy makers allegedly placed candy pumpkins on the seat of each senator as an incentive to vote to extend daylight saving time into November. Why? So candy-grubbin' kiddies would spend one more hour trick-or-treating, forcing their neighbors to buy more candy to fill the baskets. (credit:Giphy)
The original jack-o'-lanters were made from turnips, beets, and potatoes.(08 of09)
The ubiquitous decoration comes from a centuries-old Irish myth about a man named Stingy Jack. Jack managed to royally piss off the Devil during his time on Earth, so the Devil wouldn't let him into hell after his death. Because the trickster was also banned from heaven, Stingy Jack has been wandering the Earth with only a light in a hollowed-out turnip ever since.
The Scots and the Irish paid tribute to Jack by recreating his lantern with potatoes, turnips and beets on Halloween. When immigrants brought the tradition to the United States, they used the native pumpkin for their holiday carvings. (credit:Giphy)
The Scots and the Irish paid tribute to Jack by recreating his lantern with potatoes, turnips and beets on Halloween. When immigrants brought the tradition to the United States, they used the native pumpkin for their holiday carvings. (credit:Giphy)
A Halloween full moon is even more rare than a white Christmas. (09 of09)
Since 1925, there have only been five full moons on Halloween (1925, 1944, 1955, 1974, 2001). You'll have to wait until 2020 to see the next one. (credit:Giphy)