Easy, last-minute Halloween costumes for kids

These easy last-minute Halloween costumes for kids are perfect for those Halloween parties or school events that might have snuck up on you.

If you’re in a time crunch, never fear! These cute, homemade costumes are easy to DIY with materials you already have at home.

The Witch of Maketu

If you already have a witches hat from previous Halloween dress-ups, why not dress up as Aotearoa's favourite witch! This is a simple and fun NZ take on a witch costume. 

What you’ll need:

• Purple dress
• A pointy witches hat
• Jandals
• A mop
• Ribbon
• Some foliage from your garden

What to do:

• Decorate your witches hat by tying a ribbon around the bottom of the hat, just before the brim. Tuck your choice of foilage into the ribbon (use some tape to secure if you need)
• Pop on a dress, your jandals and your hat, accessorise with a mop and you're good to go!

A book to match the costume: 

Bluey

Do you have a Bluey obsessive on your hands?

You can’t go wrong with a Bluey-inspired costume this Halloween. By dressing up in all-blue and printing your own mask to colour in, this costume is just as quick as it is cute.

What you’ll need:

• Blue pants
• Blue shirt
• 2 sheets of thick A4 paper
• 1 metre of ribbon or string
• Sticky tape
• Safety scissors or a responsible grown-up to help with cutting out

What to do:

• The base of this costume couldn’t be easier! Put on the blue pants and blue shirt, adding any (optional) blue accessories you might have.
• Follow the step-by-step mask instructions here.

A book to match the costume: 

Very Hungry Caterpillar

This famous caterpillar is a classic for a good reason! Not only is the hungry caterpillar super cute, but it also makes a wonderfully easy Halloween costume. Bonus points to kids who snack while wearing this, it is part of the costume after all.

What you’ll need:

• Printable mask found here
• 1 sheet of thick A4 paper
• Safety scissors or a responsible grown-up to help with cutting out
• 1 metre of ribbon or string
• Sticky tape
• Green pants
• Green top

What to do:

• Dress in the green pants and green top.
• Print the mask on thick, A4 paper.
• Using scissors, cut out eye holes on the mask.
• Cut the string in half, then use sticky tape to adhere one piece of string to each side of the mask. You’ll be able to tie these two strings together to secure the mask on your child’s face.
• Tip: Most kids will get annoyed by the mask and end up wearing it on their head, if you think your little one will keep the mask on for a long time, however, we recommend cutting a mouth hole as well as eye holes.

A book to match the costume: 

Matilda

A great costume for book-lovers! If your little ones love Matilda, this might be the perfect costume this Halloween.

What you’ll need:

• Blue dress
• Red ribbon
• Books, including Matilda (of course!)
• Wagon, book bag or backpack for carrying books

What to do:

• Put on the blue dress.
• Tie the red ribbon around your head like a headband, preferably with a bow on top.
• Because Matilda loves reading, the goal is to bring as many books as possible. Load them into a wagon, or stuff your book bag/backpack full to the brim with your favourite books. Bonus points for including Matilda.

A book to match the costume: 

Percy Jackson

If your children love the Percy Jackson series, then we highly recommend a Camp Half-Blood costume. Whether your young ones want to dress as Percy, Annabeth or Grover, it’s convenient that these demigods dress pretty similar to ‘regular’ children. If nothing else, it certainly makes for an easy Halloween costume!

What you’ll need:

• Orange T-shirt
• Printable iron-on transfer paper (optional)
• Jeans
• Sneakers

What to do:

• If using iron-on transfer paper, print a ‘Camp Half-Blood Logo’ onto your iron-on paper.
• You can find several options by Googling ‘Camp Half-Blood logo’.
• You can also design your own Camp Half-Blood logo on a free design tool, such as Canva.
• Following the iron-on transfer paper instructions, apply the logo to the front of your orange T-shirt.
• To dress up, wear your shirt, jeans, sneakers and carry a copy of your favourite Percy Jackson book.

A book to match the costume: 

Ranger’s Apprentice

While this DIY costume might be slightly more involved, depending on whether you choose to make your own cape or not, it will delight any Will Treaty fans.

With a few staples, your kid will be transformed into a full-fledged Ranger.

What you’ll need:

• Light-coloured pants
• Long-sleeved top
• Tunic (any oversized, short-sleeved top will do)
• Belt
• Hooded cloak (ideally brown or green – find out how to make your own here)
• Toy bow 
• Toy or cardboard sword

What to do:

• If making your cloak from scratch, start with that.
• Once you have your cloak ready, it’s time to get dressed.
• This costume requires layering, so start with the long pants and long-sleeved top.
• Add the tunic and fasten around the waist with the belt.
• Slide the toy/cardboard sword into the side of the belt.
• Add your cloak to complete the look.
• Carry your bow in one hand and your favourite Ranger’s Apprentice book in the other.

A book to match the costume: