The creative magic of a DIY costume

Confession time: I instantly felt fatigued when my son suggested we make costumes.

---

Before I even reached for the glue stick, I told myself I was bored. But then I tried a little harder and was pleasantly surprised. 

When I noticed my littlest boy (2) was repeatedly vacuuming the grass using our Dyson stick, I knew I’d have to introduce some new activities to stimulate him. I got out a few balls (the footy, an old basketball, a few miscellaneous bouncy balls, and a box of cars). Within 2 minutes, it was #problemsolved. He spent hours outside with the balls and inside lining up the cars.

---

Easy!

These solutions didn’t cost me anything and had nothing to do with screen time. Now, I don’t have anything major against parents allowing screen time (we are a big ABC Kids and Disney family ourselves!!) but like most, I do prefer activities during the day over the screen. 

This way, I can save it up for the early evenings when they’re winding down (or at least I am hoping they’ll wind down!) 

Now moving on to my eldest.

---

The dreaded ‘I’m bored’

---

When I noticed my 4.5-year-old son using the phrase ‘I’m bored Mum’, it’s safe to say I was horrified. (A) How does he know that word? (B) But he has so many toy options! And (C) we had just made pancakes and built LEGO animals. How can he possibly be bored?

First of all, I sat him down and explained that the term boring isn’t very kind and we should avoid using that term around anyone else other than Mum and Dad. In a perfect world, even Mum and Dad shouldn’t have to hear it – but hey, kids right?

Second of all  – I suggested some other activities.

I got out the colouring books and pencils. Nope, not interested.

The puzzles. Nope, not interested.

Games he’s previously enjoyed – Twister and Operation. Nope, not interested.

A cubby? Nope, not interested.

Action heroes? His ears pricked up.

Here we go, I thought.

“I know Mum! Let’s make costumes!”

Make costumes? What did he mean? I wasn’t thrilled by this suggestion as I assumed it involved a lot of work.

“Instead of playing with Captain America Mum – I can BE Captain America!’

Oh. My heart sank.

I really hate to admit this but at 3.45 pm on a Wednesday, this was the last thing I wanted to do. I did what I’m sure others would be tempted to do … I got out my phone and Googled ‘Captain America Costume’. I scrolled through the options at Target, Toy World, Big W, etc, but wasn’t inspired by what I saw. The drive involved and the cost – no thanks. There had to be another way!

I zoomed in on a few of the costumes and thought to myself, ‘Surely I can make something along these lines with what we have at home – pretty efficiently?’ A few old garments, some paper and pencils, maybe some paint? Surely.

---

Next thing you know…

---

Within 20 minutes, Captain America was flying around the house with his trusty shield (made using a wicker laundry basket lid).

My son was gleefully existing in a make-believe Marvel world, bubbling with true joy. As was I. Because when you see your child’s imagination switch into gear, it’s mesmerising. They’re such creative little things and don’t need much to feel like they’ve been whisked into an imaginative realm.

From then on, costumes were a thing. Given the DIY ease of the process, I now honestly don’t mind the task at all. I enjoy it!

It’s cheap (you’d be amazed at how resourceful you can be with what you already own), it’s relatively efficient and it’s a fabulous way to engage a child’s love of play. They can spend hours extending the costume into miles and miles of adventure with the inch of creation you gave them.

Everything you need for costume-making

---

Over time, I’ve worked out that you can be incredibly innovative with whatever you already have at home and in the wardrobe. Having said this, however, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a few of the following basics in the cupboard;

• Paper 
• Glue (stick glue is fine)
• A pair of scissors
• Sticky tape 
• Elastic
• Fabric markers or fabric paint (Note – if you choose to buy fabric paint, make sure you also buy a paint brush! I have fallen into this trap too many times. It’s beyond frustrating to paint with the end of a fork).
• A ‘craft box’ (At your local Target, Big W, Kmart or Officeworks you can usually find plastic tubs full of things like sequins, coloured popsicle sticks, pom-poms, feathers etc.)
• A few basic t-shirts and shorts in block colours – that you are not afraid to decorate or stain. 

Have a look at the images provided within this article to get an idea of the costume type I am talking about. We’re not aiming to create costumes that’ll last for years, nor are we trying to mirror the works of a Baz Lurhman production. We are simply going for easy, fun, preferably re-wearable and basic designs – resembling characters our little ones love.

 

Final thoughts

---

Parenting can be tiring and some aspects of the entertaining element can feel draining.

Adults are (mostly) intellectual beings, so spending our time colouring in, building blocks or playing ‘cafes’ can make us feel as though time is standing still. And what then tends to follow? Guilt, or screen time … or wine. I ain’t judging! 

Instead of dreading the ‘play’ or constantly buying new toys to fill a void, remember that their little minds are so dazzled when they watch us (their parents) turn one thing into another. The transformation of a plain blue t-shirt into a Captain America suit, paired with a laundry basket for a shield … it was as if Christmas came early!

Even if you’re not a crafty/artsy person, it’s worth it. This time in their lives will go by in a flash. 

Be open to looking at the world through your children’s eyes. Give them ten minutes when you promised two. Stop doing the dishes or writing that reply email or pause your Netflix show for just 30 quick seconds to look up, acknowledge whatever it is they’re dying to show you and say with encouragement, ‘Wow – that’s awesome! 

They will cherish that moment so dearly.

Even the littlest tidbits of time go such a long way with children.