Halloween for Adults More than Kids?

Updated on October 24, 2011
M.F. asks from Youngstown, OH
12 answers

I went costume shopping with my 6yo today. He had no clue what he wanted to be so we started at Walmart and no luck but they had tons more adult costumes than kids. I just thought maybe they were picked over. We went to Spirit Halloween Store and they had a horrible selection for kids also not much variety but I would say 3/4 of costume volume were adults including accessories . We go to Party Max and they did have a good selection and variety of costumes for kids but way more adult ones. I know it's a week before halloween but none of the stores had bare shelves or racks just more stuff for adults. I thought halloween was about kids dressing up as whatever they want(or whatever their parents are willing to let them be..lol) and pretending for a couple hours and getting candy? Does anyone else feel like adult have taken over halloween for their fun? I am not anti adult parties I have had one at my house and helped a friend with one at her house a bunch of times so it is fun to dress up but why does it seem(to me atleast) that it is more for adults?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

I just wanted to add he did find a costume. He has gone back and forth all month and today I just took him to decide in person. My older boy already has his, we oredered it online weeks ago. We dont' do hand me downs anymore because they end up playing in them after wich is fine with me.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I think at this point, the childrens things are sold out. That is probably why there is so many adult costumes. (not judging, i have not shopped for the kiddies yet) I am thinking mine are wearing hand me downs this year :) I have never waited this long, my fault :(

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.B.

answers from Miami on

I'm going to get on my soapbox and have a little rant about this. I was out the other day trying to find goodies to put in the treat bags for my daughter's fall party at school. The school doesn't allow ghosts, witches, etc. We were told by the room mom to find something with fall leaves or pumpkins on it. Would you believe I went to 3 stores and could hardly find anything that didn't have scary looking things on them? Pencils, stickers, bubbles, you name it...ALL of it had ghoulish looking things on them. I was so aggravated! Why does everything have to be so over the top?? I saw some really cute looking little pencils and tiny notepads that looked like they would have been perfect, but for the fact that they said "I love vampires" on them. REALLY?? On pencils and small kid's notepads??

Everywhere we looked for costumes this year, we had to walk by some really scary stuff to get to the kids stuff and my daughter was scared of it all. I understand that it is Halloween and that some of the stuff is scary and that people like to do haunted houses and such, but can't they put it in one place by the adult stuff so that I can try to avoid it? Why must the entire store be decked out in the "face half ripped off and bloody" creatures so that my kids are too scared to go in there?

Ok...my rant is over. I'm sorry that you haven't had any luck in the costume department. The Disney Store had some cute things from Toy Story, Cars and of course the Princesses. You may want to check there. Hope your kids have fun!

3 moms found this helpful

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

Probably all the kid costumes were bought and just the adult ones were left. I don't EVER get dressed up for halloween and totally think it's a kid holiday.
L.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.P.

answers from New York on

I have to agree that there were way fewer children's costumes than I expected there to be in the stores. I have no issue with everyone celebrating but I reallly don't understand why they don't have a red boy's firefighter costume in any store but Party City has a really stupid plug and socket costume for adult couples. Not to mention a bacon and eggs costume for couples.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.

answers from Augusta on

I dunno,
The stores here had tons of kids costumes. Maybe it's regional?
But halloween isnt' just for kids . Our whole family dress up each year and go trick or treating .
But anyway here, there are tons of kids costumes. the balance of costumes here varies from walmart to walmart. Target had very few adult costumes.
But the costumes stores , party city, halloween express, etc had a pretty good balance.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Our stores have tons of kid and baby costumes as well as adult. Do you have Party City? Target also has a lot. I love it and love having a wide adult selection to choose from! It's a holiday that everyone can enjoy. My kids love Christmas too, but they don't get as jazzed as I do over my Christmas village or other more adult aspects of that holiday. I don't think Halloween is a kids holiday only. Check out Costume Express and One Step Ahead online as well!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.K.

answers from Appleton on

The idea of retail being 6 months ahead of schedule is soooooo frustrating. Having to buy snowpants in July when the thermometer reads 95-100* and swimsuits in January is in my opinion just plain stupid. The stores had Halloween stuff in and stocked by mid July. I don't think the holiday is more for adults than for kids but in order to get the costume in the size you need, you need to be shopping before school starts.

You can check places like Goodwill or consignment shops. Good luck, I hope he has fun anyway.

G.T.

answers from Redding on

The kids in my apartment complex have been wearing costumes for weeks.... so I think the kid ones just come out early and get bought up?

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I think at this point...or at least here in our area...most adult Halloween parties were this weekend, and from past experience from the last few years. I went early to get my kids costumes, and we had TONS to choose from. ( I know some of you will remember I said I would try and that it might not happend but I DID IT! I went early)

Yes there are whole isles devoted to adults. But I don't think Halloween is "just for kids"...to me that's like saying Valentines Day is only for people who are in romantic love...

There are different things to celebrate, adults like to dress up too! I just don't get where are the rules come from? I'm not a "follow the crowd" kinda girl so for me what is consider the "norm"...I try to avoid!

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

The only place I saw the least amount of kids costumes was Spirit Halloween. They had a good selection of tween and up, but for toddlers they didn't have hardly anything.
Walmart and Party City here had tons of kids costumes. Party city had a whole wall of kids from infants to tweens full of costumes. Maybe what happened was they ran out of some of the kids costumes and restocked the shelves with whatever else they had?
I have never stopped dressing up for Halloween..so I sort of appreciate the large variety of adult costumes too. I'm just a big kid anyway lol. =)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

We always made costumes. I get whatever color sweatsuit for the main suit then decorate it.
Or we go to Goodwill and piece together something.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I've seen it about 50/50 here. I usually make my DD's costumes so we weren't really looking on the shelves, but I did go to Party City to get pieces for DH and I and saw a whole wall of costume ideas for kids.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions