Trying to be patient as your kid makes their 15th request for a Halloween costume can be hard, but when you start looking online for options, some of them are absolutely inappropriate. You don’t want to have your kid dressed up for trick-or-treating in something that may be offensive to someone else, like a costume that represents a culture your child doesn’t identify with, or one of a controversial figure. Most grown-ups know better, but these are some Halloween costumes to steer clear of because they’re scary for all the wrong reasons.
- Psych ward patient - This straight jacket costume for kids can magnify stereotypes that people with mental health issues are “crazy” and dangerous. "Let your kids embrace their wild and crazy nature while still keeping them safe with this straight jacket for boys," reads the product description on Amazon. But the costume could mock mental health and that’s not a good message to send.
- Pimp - We shouldn’t have to say it, but a costume related to prostitution isn’t for kids. This "Child Cheetah Pimp Suit Costume" is one we hope no one wears this spooky season.
- Sexy nurse - Dressing up as a nurse is a fantastic choice, but this “Teen Sexy Nurse" costume is not. The words “sexy” and “teen” don’t belong together, but there are plenty of Halloween costumes that use the inappropriate combination, including a sexy ladybug "for any teenage girl looking to turn heads" on Halloween.
- Prisoner - The "Deluxe Button Down Jailbird Costume for Kids" will have your child "sentenced for life," according to HalloweenCostumes.com's website. But experts point out that when kids dress up like someone in jail, it makes light of an experience that shouldn’t be trivialized.
- Native American princess - A "Native American Girl Halloween Costume" isn't a good idea if it's worn by a child who is not part of the cultural or racial group represented. "Native American is not a costume," states The National Museum of the American Indian on its website.
- Pot leaf - Believe it or not, there’s a baby “Pots for Tots” marijuana leaf costume on Costumeish's website. The description calls it “just the right combo of cute and edgy that’s sure to get stares and laughs from everyone.”
Source: Today
Scott's Thoughts:
- There are all kinds of costumes to choose from, why not pick one that doesn’t offend people?
- Kids costumes should be age appropriate!
- A lot of these I wouldn't even want my kids to be dressed in.