The Spooky Times

Celebrating Halloween with toddlers brings a certain element of innocence to the mix. With a toddler, it may not be possible to go out and party like you normally would, and trick or treating can get tiresome for your toddler very quickly. Safety is always an issue with toddlers as they are very naive and can be scared very easily. Here are some top tips to keep your toddler safe and still enjoy the holiday.

* Avoid scary costumes. Children, especially toddlers, are prone to night frights. It is also very difficult, if not impossible, for toddlers to separate reality from the “monsters” that they may see walking around. If you plan to dress up, make sure your child knows that it is you behind the costume and keep the costume simple; for example, go easy on the make-up.

* Trick or treating may not be the best idea with a toddler. If you do decide to take your toddler trick or treating, keep the trip short and visit just a few houses on your block. If your friends and family live close by, it is a good idea to visit those houses as your toddler will be more at ease with them than a stranger’s house. Any more than that and your toddler may not only lose interest, the costumes may also cause your toddler to panic.

* Hold a party at your house. This is a great way to enjoy the holiday and still keep it relatively simple for your toddler. Holding a party at your house as opposed to going to someone else’s party means that you can set the terms for your party and keep it toddler friendly. Invite other people who you know have toddlers to enjoy a mellow, yet festive Halloween party.

* Candy is a big issue when it comes to protecting your toddlers. Toddlers are not aware that some candies may be too hard for them to chew and pose a potential choking hazard. Keeping your child away from the candy bowl, however, can prove to be a bit of a challenge. Make sure the candy bowl is out of reach and that older children and adults know not to give your child any candy without approval from you. It is always best to be near your child just in case.

Halloween can be fun for toddlers but safety must play an important role. Toddlers are usually not able to separate reality from the costumes that may be around, causing your child to panic. Trick or treating is not usually a long event with toddlers, if you do choose to take them out. Visiting the houses of friends and family will help to keep your toddler at ease while still enjoying the trick or treating.

Holding a party at your house is a great way to keep your toddler safe, yet enjoy the holiday. Always make sure that your child is not able to reach the candy bowl should they grab a hard piece of candy that may pose a choking hazard. By following these tips, you are not only protecting your toddler, but making sure they are able to join in on the Halloween fun as well.

There’s an eerie chill in the air. Witches and goblins galore roam the streets. There’s a low, keening wail that sends shivers through even the most stalwart of us. On this one night of the year when the spookiest of the spooky come out by the hundreds, the tricks can be as plentiful as the treats.

But who says that Halloween has to be about the fright? There can be lighthearted laughter, too – and you would fit right in by selecting one of the funny mens Halloween costume ideas listed below.

Nothing could be as sunshine bright as the Man in the Yellow Hat costume. You’ll get everything needed to be the laugh of the party. If you’re going with someone else, get a curious monkey costume to go along with yours.

You can elicit laugher and fade into the background by getting the Where’s Waldo costume. In this shirt, hat and glasses, you’ll certainly ‘blend’ right in. Remember the comic strip Spy vs. Spy? Well now you can get either the black or the white costume and join in on the antics of MAD’s most popular spies.

Another funny men’s Halloween costume choice includes the Super Mario Bros Nintendo costume, which is the jumpsuit with the inflatable belly, the mustache, gloves and hat. For a duo idea, have your friend or partner dress as Luigi.

How about the Cat in the Hat? Dr. Seuss’s stories were always good for a laugh or two and now you can bring that laughter on Halloween night by dressing in the Cat in the Hat Thing 1 costume.

The bright red fleece jumpsuit is perfect for creating a lighter bit of mayhem on the spooky night. Don’t forget if you’re looking for a friend’s costume, to suggest the Thing 2.

Animal costumes can be quite funny and the Comfy Flying Squirrel costume is sure to elicit some laughter. This cozy jumpsuit and hood only needs some large acorns for adornment for you to enjoy the festivities.

You’ll get a lot of crazy laughter by dressing in the Men’s Straight Jacket Costume – which, by the way, would make a great Hannibal Lector costume, too. Have your friend or loved one dress in a doctor’s coat and tag along!

Funny men’s Halloween costume ideas can also include fruit – and there’s a funny banana just waiting to be picked. This is a lightweight costume that would mingle well with a few apples and oranges!

Another funny costume is one of the favorites among the Muppets – Muppets Gonzo Costume . This bug-eyed character with the hooked nose is bound to bring both applause and laughter. For a group costume outing, have your friends dress as other members of the Muppets gang.

Kids of all ages have always had a deep interest and love for superheroes. These characters are strong and powerful and always arrive on the scene in the nick of time to make a difference and save the day.

Throughout the ages there have been many different superheroes, but one continues to stick out and that’s Captain America. This larger than life hero, created in the 1940s, burst onto the scene in his American flag style costume.

He carried a shield he could use in battling evil and always righted the wrongs done. Over 200 million comic books featuring Captain America have sold – his popularity has never waned. That’s one of the reasons the Captain America costume for kids continues to be a bestseller year after year.

When kids get this costume, it’s more than just donning an outfit – in their imagination, they become a hero whose job it is to fight for justice and to make a difference. It’s one of the most patriotic costumes around today. There are a variety of designs in the costume, but let’s focus on the top three most sought after designs.

The first Captain America costume for kids is the Captain America Movie Classic Costume. It’s patterned after The First Avenger Movie featuring the timeless hero. The suit has the built in muscle padding in the arms and on the chest to recreate the hero’s physique. It’s a complete outfit with the jumpsuit and mask. The costume is blue with a white star on the chest. Accents of red are found in a small portion of the costume and in the shield.

The second costume on the list is the Captain America Deluxe Muscle child costume. It’s a lighter blue in color from the first one and has the wings on the hood of the costume. It also has the muscle padding and white star on the chest. But this costume has the red accents at the forearms and in the boots.

The third favorite among the Captain America costume for kids design is the Captain America Classic child costume. This jumpsuit is a little different because this one has the red and white stripes in the torso.

The jumpsuit does come with the mask but you’ll have to pick up the shield and the red socks separately. It doesn’t really matter which of the costumes you choose to get, your child will be thrilled with any one of them and you’ll be thrilled at the price! Because not only will you save money on these durable costumes but you’ll also be getting something that your child will love to play with all through the year.