Halloween continues to grow in popularity across Australia, with more families embracing the fun of dressing up, trick-or-treating and decorating their homes each year.
Your child has possibly spent months insisting they are going to be a dinosaur, which is fine- you have that costume already thanks to their older sibling. And then, four days out, they announce they would much rather dress as a shark. Not a dinosaur. A shark. And no negotiation can change their mind.
Just know, this is not a failure of planning. It is just what happens as kids grow up and the excitement of Halloween grows with them. What makes it even more exciting is that Halloween in 2026 & 2027 falls on the weekend, making the lead up even more fun and family friendly!
When your child announces they’ve changed their costume idea with zero time to spare, don’t panic, there are still some great in-person options! Spotlight, one of Australia’s largest retailers, can help! Their party supply aisles are stocked full of Halloween costumes for almost every theme and character. So, you can just walk in, grab a ready-made costume and all the extra accessories, and walk out looking like the shark parent you were meant to be!
Put Limits Around the New Masterpiece
The costume “change of mind” usually lands with no warning and very little logic behind it. One day the plan is locked in. Next minute, your child has watched something, heard something at school, or simply changed their mind, and the dinosaur idea is dead. A shark has taken its place, or a firefighter, or, memorably for some parents, “a scary lamp.”
The trick? Give them a curated menu of costumes.
Instead of asking, “What do you want to be now?”, parents can show children a few kids’ Halloween costumes that fit their size and budget. Shifting the choice to “Which of these do you like most?” instantly cuts down on frantic searching.
And remember Halloween is meant to be fun (and you can always reuse the costumes for bookweek and other dress up occasions in the future)
Small Details Can Rescue a Simple Costume
While a complete costume fitout is the most convenient approach, it is not the only way to handle a late change of heart.
The fastest fix might already be hiding in your child’s wardrobe. Basic black clothes easily become the base for a witch, vampire, or cat, while an old white shirt can instantly form the basis of several spooky ideas. Add some face paint, a fun wig, or a single recognisable accessory, and a plain outfit completely transforms.
This approach is especially a lifesaver when the exact costume your child wants is unavailable in their size or you lack the funds for a full costume. It shifts the goal from hunting down one elusive item to building something clever with what is already on hand.
Where To Go When You Need a last minute Miracle
Online shopping is brilliant when you have weeks to compare options and track deliveries, but three days before Halloween is a completely different story. You need something you can physically pick up and take home today.
Heading into a physical store, like your local Spotlight, takes all the guesswork out of the picture. You can check the sizing in person, grab any missing accessories, and make sure you have everything sorted before stepping up to the register.
Browsing a full aisle of Halloween costumes also makes pivoting infinitely easier. If your child’s first choice is sold out, seeing real options on the rack helps them shift gears fast. They might walk in insisting on one thing, but happily skip out with something completely unexpected.
The goal is simply about finding an option your child is genuinely excited to wear.
The same trip can also cover other forgotten Halloween needs. A quick walk through Spotlight’s party supply section can easily clear up missing decorations, themed tableware, or extra trick-or-treat buckets for your home setup.
Parent tips for Halloween costume choice
After almost 19 Halloween’s with kids- (my 17 year old still trick or treats today!) I have a few tips to share
- October can be hot (even at night), compounded by walking up hills to trick or treat, so look for something light and breezy if you can.
- If your kids are easily annoyed by clothing texture, make sure you consider this in the costume choice.
- Test the outfit- (like you would shoes)
- Spot test any face paint a few days before Halloween
- Watch the length – and consider whether you might need to grab some hemming tape while you are at Spotlight
- Sometimes a fun and spooky mask is all that is needed to carry the Halloween theme.
- Grab a couple of glow sticks while you are at Spotlight to illuminate their costumes so that can be seen easily at night.
Remember, a hat may disappear. Face paint may smudge. A carefully chosen accessory might survive ten minutes before being shoved into your hands to carry for the rest of the night. That is all just part of the Halloween memories.
If your child leaves the house on October 31 wearing a costume they are happy with, the plan worked, even if it looks nothing like the one everybody agreed on at the start of the month.
Disclosure: This article was created in partnership with Spotlight.
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