Kids Scary/Gory Costumes - What Age? Update #48

[JamesMom]

Hi,

I am having this debate again with my soon to be 10 year old son (Jan birthday). He wants to dress as a zombie complete with fake blood. As he is not allowed to watch zombie movies (but does play Plants vs. Zombie video game) until he is older, I have put my foot down that when he is in middle school (5th grade next year) he can go 'scary'. I think at this age halloween is about being anything you want to be and not just about the scare factor. I wanted to get opinons from other parents about this so here is the poll. BTW - he is dressing as a special forces military dude complete with weapons this year


ETA - Next year when he is in middle school and 10 years old - I think is the appropriate age to do blood and gore IMHO. Just curious what others thought.

Also, for those who think fake blood and gore is appropraite at any age, at what age to do you let them read/watch movies about such things? Why do they want to dress the part if they don't know the part? IE, the scream mask - have they watched the movie the character references? I don't think that movie would be appropriate until high school as it is rated R, IMHO.

Thanks for replying - gives me lots to think about.

 

[Coconut36]

Hi,

I am having this debate again with my soon to be 10 year old son (Jan birthday). He wants to dress as a zombie complete with fake blood. As he is not allowed to watch zombie movies (but does play Plants vs. Zombie video game) until he is older, I have put my foot down that when he is in middle school (5th grade here) he can go 'scary'. I think at this age halloween is about being anything you want to be and not just about the scare factor. I wanted to get opinons from other parents about this so here is the pool. BTW - he is dressing as a special forces military dude complete with weapons this year

So weapons are OK but fake blood is bad?

I have no restrictions really...it's Halloween. I let them look online or at the store at costumes in their size range and let them pick. I would have no issue with fake blood (ODS was 5 or 6 and a vampire one year..complete with a little fake blood on his face).

I picked the any scary however I don't even slightly believe "that is what Halloween is all about" but I also have little issue with some fake blood and such on Halloween.

ETA-Kids are not allowed to dress up at school so scary/violent/gory is not an issue for us as costumes are for Halloween/trick or treating only and are not worn at school.

 

[StephMK]

I don't have restrictions but they are not allowed to wear scary costumes at their elementary school. They usually dress up in different things that we still keep in the dress up boxes.

In 4th, DS went as some kind of dark hooded ghoul person w/glowing eyes but was a baseball player for school. The year before that, he was a vampire w/fake blood. Funny really because horror movie commercials completely freak him out.

 

[Southernmiss]

So weapons are OK but fake blood is bad?

I have no restrictions really...it's Halloween. I let them look online or at the store at costumes in their size range and let them pick. I would have no issue with fake blood (ODS was 5 or 6 and a vampire one year..complete with a little fake blood on his face).

I picked the any scary however I don't even slightly believe "that is what Halloween is all about" but I also have little issue with some fake blood and such on Halloween.

+1

We had this discussion here on the DIS last week. Son and cousins who are 8 were all supposed to be AVengers, but cousins changed their plan to scary and mom of lone cousin was upset.

I too, had a vampire at 7 and zombies and scream and grim reapers. As long is the costumes are not raunchy and not gory, zombies at 8 and above are ok with me.

Halloween for us is All Hallows Eve-the evening before we honor the dead. My kids are well adjusted and if they want to dress as the dead on the eve of the dead so be it.

Edit--for our family, kids stop trick or treating about 7th or 8th grade

 

[Hannathy]

So he can dress up like all the other boys his age just about when they think about not going out any more?

7th grade is usually about the last yr most kids think it is a big deal to dress up and go out trick or treating. Yes some do in 8th but it isn' the big deal it was when they are 8.

I think 10 is the ideal age to dress up scary and gory. Wanted to add they can do it younger if they want , I just think boys are really into it at 10. That is when most of the boys I know were really into it! (son, nephew, all their friends) My DS was a soldier when he was 6.

I also don't think Halloween is just about scary but I have no problem with kids playing make believe in costumes at any age gory or cute.

 

[jen0610]

Hi,

I am having this debate again with my soon to be 10 year old son (Jan birthday). He wants to dress as a zombie complete with fake blood. As he is not allowed to watch zombie movies (but does play Plants vs. Zombie video game) until he is older, I have put my foot down that when he is in middle school (5th grade next year) he can go 'scary'. I think at this age halloween is about being anything you want to be and not just about the scare factor. I wanted to get opinons from other parents about this so here is the poll. BTW - he is dressing as a special forces military dude complete with weapons this year

Before you know it, he will be to old, hip, cool, whatever he will call it to care about dressing up for halloween. Let him be what he wants to be, now while he is excited about putting together a costume.

Now, if you were talking about a 10 year old who said she wanted to be a sexy pirate, fairy, or whatever, then I would put my foot down. Because at age 10, the word sexy doesn't need to be the main word used descripe her costume.

 

[JamesMom]

Before you know it, he will be to old, hip, cool, whatever he will call it to care about dressing up for halloween. Let him be what he wants to be, now while he is excited about putting together a costume.

Now, if you were talking about a 10 year old who said she wanted to be a sexy pirate, fairy, or whatever, then I would put my foot down. Because at age 10, the word sexy doesn't need to be the main word used descripe her costume.

OP here, I am so glad I don't have girls for this very reason - what can pre-high school girls wear?
And do kids really grow up that fast? I see kids in middle school and even high school trick or treating in our neighborhood and as a kids I went out until age 13. Middle/Intermediate school is from 5-8th grade here - still prime time trick or treating age in my neck of the woods.

 

[jen0610]

OP here, I am so glad I don't have girls for this very reason - what can pre-high school girls wear?
And do kids really grow up that fast? I see kids in middle school and even high school trick or treating in our neighborhood and as a kids I went out until age 13. Middle/Intermediate school is from 5-8th grade here - still prime time trick or treating age in my neck of the woods.

In 7th grade, DD was 13 and she went as Abby from NCIS. Yes, she wore a mini skirt with saftey pins on it, but she had this calf length lab coat over it. She had on typical Abby make-up, including her tattoo's that I had to draw on and we used the spray hair coloring to make her hair jet black. Nobody made a comment about it being to old or sexy, as just by looking at her, you could tell who she had dressed up as.

 

[marcyinPA]

I didn't vote, because none of the categories fit me- but my kids never wanted to be anything scary. They aren't into that kind of thing, and always had other ideas (the past two years, my youngest DS was a lumberjack and a plumber...complete with a plunger and fake poop!)
My oldest dressed up and t-or-t'ed through his 6th grade year. My youngest is in 8th grade and this is his last year for t-or-t'ing.

 

[StephMK]

OP here, I am so glad I don't have girls for this very reason - what can pre-high school girls wear?
And do kids really grow up that fast? I see kids in middle school and even high school trick or treating in our neighborhood and as a kids I went out until age 13. Middle/Intermediate school is from 5-8th grade here - still prime time trick or treating age in my neck of the woods.

Last year, DD (6th grade) went as a panda bear. The year before, she was the Disney version of Tinkerbell. She tends towards the younger, less mature tastes so far, thankfully! Middle school is 6-8 this year and she has requested a party in lieu of t or t this year. We'll see how that works out, not sure how we're going to handle it yet.

 

[Music City Mama]

Older DS wore a scary costume when he was 7 (skeleton light-up thingy) and my younger DS who is 5 wants to wear it this year which is fine by me. It's the only time either has worn a scary costume so far, but older DS (now 9.5) wants to do something scary again. He saw this one where it looked like you're headless and carrying your own head which I thought was hilarious, but I told him it might not be a good idea because we have a lot of young kids in the neighborhood (we'll get over 100 trick-or-treaters), and it may bee too much for the little ones, but I'll let him be something scary. He wants to be a Dementor from Harry Potter (after 2 straight years of being Harry Potter), but I can't find anything that looks that great. The rest of his friends (they're in 4th grade) plan on being something scary this year, too.

 

[luvmy3]

I think scary is okay for any age, but I think gory is for middle school or older. Last year my ds (7 at the time) was the Scream guy. I didn't mind that but I drew the line at the bloody knife we wanted to carry. My older ds (10 at the time) was a zombie, with gory blood and wounds all over. This year I think we are making minecraft costumes so they won't be scary or gory.

 

[cornflake]

Hi,

I am having this debate again with my soon to be 10 year old son (Jan birthday). He wants to dress as a zombie complete with fake blood. As he is not allowed to watch zombie movies (but does play Plants vs. Zombie video game) until he is older, I have put my foot down that when he is in middle school (5th grade next year) he can go 'scary'. I think at this age halloween is about being anything you want to be and not just about the scare factor. I wanted to get opinons from other parents about this so here is the poll. BTW - he is dressing as a special forces military dude complete with weapons this year


ETA - Next year when he is in middle school and 10 years old - I think is the appropriate age to do blood and gore IMHO. Just curious what others thought.

Also, for those who think fake blood and gore is appropraite at any age, at what age to do you let them read/watch movies about such things? Why do they want to dress the part if they don't know the part? IE, the scream mask - have they watched the movie the character references? I don't think that movie would be appropriate until high school as it is rated R, IMHO.

Thanks for replying - gives me lots to think about.

Halloween is about being anything you want to be! - except if you want to be a zombie, then you're out of luck.

Add me to the - zombie is out because fake blood is scary but you'll let your 10-year-old run around with a fake fatal weapons pretending he's a soldier? Who in the what now? Honestly, is this a joke post?

 

[cabanafrau]

In 7th grade, DD was 13 and she went as Abby from NCIS. Yes, she wore a mini skirt with saftey pins on it, but she had this calf length lab coat over it. She had on typical Abby make-up, including her tattoo's that I had to draw on and we used the spray hair coloring to make her hair jet black. Nobody made a comment about it being to old or sexy, as just by looking at her, you could tell who she had dressed up as.

DD14 did the same two years ago. Her skirt was gray, pleated, w/ tiny black skulls. She wore leggings to keep her legs warmer. That costume got the biggest reaction & she pulled it together entirely on her own -- which made it my favorite too!

OP I don't think the fake blood or gory is a big deal. Zombie, vampire, grim reaper, all fine by me. I think where I'd draw the line would be the kind of scary/gory that was a bit more realistically violent -- say Hannibal Lecter or if something like the Jeffrey Dahmer case was current news & a kid popped up & said they wanted to dress like him. That's where I'd put the brakes on. Mummies, ghouls, vampires seem classic Halloween to me.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I don't see anything wrong with Zombie for a 10 year old. My twins are 11 now but last year we did a family monster theme. My 12 year old dd was a zombie prom queen.

 

[padams]

Hi,

I am having this debate again with my soon to be 10 year old son (Jan birthday). He wants to dress as a zombie complete with fake blood. As he is not allowed to watch zombie movies (but does play Plants vs. Zombie video game) until he is older, I have put my foot down that when he is in middle school (5th grade next year) he can go 'scary'. I think at this age halloween is about being anything you want to be and not just about the scare factor. I wanted to get opinons from other parents about this so here is the poll. BTW - he is dressing as a special forces military dude complete with weapons this year


ETA - Next year when he is in middle school and 10 years old - I think is the appropriate age to do blood and gore IMHO. Just curious what others thought.

Also, for those who think fake blood and gore is appropraite at any age, at what age to do you let them read/watch movies about such things? Why do they want to dress the part if they don't know the part? IE, the scream mask - have they watched the movie the character references? I don't think that movie would be appropriate until high school as it is rated R, IMHO.

Thanks for replying - gives me lots to think about.

Dressing up and watching movies are two separate activities. Letting your child dress as a zombie doesn't mean you also let them see R rated movies.

I'd say no to the fake weapon as a costume accessory long before I'd have any issues with a zombie costume.

Let him be what he wants to be as this year may be his last year to trick or treat. Lots of middle schoolers are "too cool" to trick or treat.

 

[JamesMom]

OP Here,

Thanks for all the responses! I spoke with some moms while waiting to pick up my kids and they said their older kids trick or treat with costumes until at least age 12, one had a 13 year old daughter who is playing to go, so my oldest has many years left to dress scary
I love NCIS and the Abby costume - awesome!
Really no one sees the difference between being a gory zombie (fantasy dead guy) and an elite soilder which is a noble life goal? Our country owes it's freedom to such people! And yeah, they carry guns. I see no difference between this and dressing as a fireman or policeman (who carry guns, too). He wants to join the Army so he can blow stuff up and do survival skills, lol. BTW - my son is still 9 and needs to set the example to his younger brother.
Thanks again for the responses!

 

[pigletgirl]

Growing up, we never were allowed to be anything that resembled violence. It all had to be in good taste. I think I will do the same for our children. They can be ninjas, pirates, etc as long as it isn't over the top.

 

[Ceila]

My son went as a zombie skateboarder in 4th grade (complete with fake blood on his face) and my daughter went as a vampire in 3rd grade (no blood, but I would have let her if she wanted). I don't allow sexually suggestive costumes, but scary is part of what makes Halloween fun to us. I've always had creepy decorations in the yard and those scary window coverings in the front windows, so to tell the kids that they could look at it but not wear it would be completely hypocritical.

 

[msjprincess]

Whatever age they want. My daughter was a zombie prom queen in second grade.