Is Your Child Ready for World Book Day?
If you’re a parent, you are probably familiar with the stress and panic that comes with World Book Day. The thought of having to come up with a costume for your child can be daunting, and the pressure to make it perfect can be overwhelming. But fear not! We’re here to tell you to take a deep breath, make yourself a cup of tea, and relax. With a little creativity and some items you probably already have at home, you can create a fantastic costume for your child that will make them stand out on World Book Day.
For those who are not familiar with World Book Day, it is an annual event that takes place on March 6th in the UK and Ireland. It was created to encourage children to appreciate and celebrate their favorite books and characters by dressing up as them. While many schools have a dress-up day to mark the occasion, it doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on a ready-made costume. With a bit of imagination, you can create a costume that your child will love without breaking the bank.
To help you out, we have enlisted the help of Sarah-Jane Outten, a money-saving expert from MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, as well as education experts from Explore Learning. Together, they have come up with 11 quick and easy costume ideas based on the most popular children’s books.
1. Charlie Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
If your child is a fan of Roald Dahl’s classic book, then this costume is perfect. According to Explore Learning’s experts, you can create a quick Charlie Bucket costume using any old or oversized clothing you already own. All you need is an oversized shirt, cardigan, scarf, a beanie or flat cap, and a satchel. To complete the look, make or print off a homemade Golden Ticket, and have your child carry a bar of chocolate as a lucky prop.
2. Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
For those who prefer the 2005 film version, dressing up as Veruca Salt is just as easy. Look for any glitzy party outfit your child already has at home and go over the top with sparkles and bows. Add a homemade Golden Ticket, an oversized lollipop, and your little one is good to go.
3. Matilda
This is a great costume for bookworms. All you need is a blue dress, a pair of white socks, a book to carry, and a red ribbon or headband, suggests Outten.
4. Paddington Bear
If your child is a fan of the lovable bear from darkest Peru, then this costume is perfect. You will need a duffle coat, a soft red or black hat, welly boots, an old suitcase, and of course, a marmalade sandwich.
5. Harry or Hermione from Harry Potter
The Harry Potter series is a favorite among children, and dressing up as the characters is always a hit. To create a Harry or Hermione costume, find a school uniform, white shirt, or black jumper. Then, dig out an old striped tie or scarf. If you have a cape or witch’s hat from a past Halloween costume, even better. A stick can double as the world’s easiest homemade wand, according to education experts at Explore Learning. For Harry, add any spare glasses you have lying around the house or make some out of cardboard. You can use lipliner to create a DIY scar to finish the look. For Hermione, add some crimped or backcombed hair and a stack of books.
6. Mr. Bump from the Mr. Men series
If you’re willing to part with some loo roll or kitchen roll, this costume is perfect. Dress your child in blue and get creative using bandages or plasters, or opt for loo roll as a quick and easy option.
7. Max from Where The Wild Things Are
For this costume, all you need is a hooded, light-colored onesie. If you don’t have one, a long-sleeved white t-shirt, white hoodie, and white trousers or leggings will work just as well. The pros at Explore Learning recommend sewing pipe cleaners to the hoodie for DIY whiskers or drawing on the face with an eye pencil for a quicker option. To complete the look, create a DIY crown with strong gold paper or cardboard and
