Working the fields isn’t easy. But making this costume is. The biggest obstacle? Cutting through the box. So if your little farm-lover wants to mow down some candy this Halloween, here’s how to make an easy, barn-raiser of a costume.
Materials:
- Rectangle cardboard box (tractor shaped), big enough for child to fit inside, but small enough for him to hold/wear.
- X-Acto knife (or scissors)
- Green paint
- Black construction paper
- Glue
- Yellow construction paper
- Brown construction paper
- Flannel or plaid shirt
- Overalls
- Cowboy hat
- Duct tape (optional)
Step 1: Take your cardboard box and cut the top flaps off using your x acto knife (or scissors). Save the flaps for Step 2. This open side will be the bottom of your tractor. Now flip the box over and cut out the back half of cardboard, making sure the hole is big enough for your child to fit inside. Paint the outside of the box green, using about three coats.
Step 2: With the flaps you cut off earlier, trace 2 large circles for wheels, and cut them out. Glue these onto black construction paper and trim the excess. Trace 2 smaller circles out of yellow construction paper and glue these over the black construction paper. Now you have wheels!
Step 3: Once the green paint has dried, glue one wheel to each side of the cardboard box, close to the end where your child will be.
Step 4: To make the grill, take a brown piece of construction paper and place horizontally in front of you. Draw 5 or 6 long thin ovals in the center of your paper, cut them out and throw them away. Glue the construction paper with ovals cut out onto the front of the green box. Your tractor is complete.
Step 5: Dress your child in a flannel shirt, overalls, and a cowboy hat. Then have him or her step into the box and hold it around his middle like a tractor. You can make straps out of Duct tape to hold it in place while trick or treating.
For more costume ideas, check out these 48 Easy DIY Halloween Costume Ideas in 4 Steps or Less.
Katie Bugbee is our global parenting expert and senior managing editor here at Care.com. She has written for Babble, Huffington Post, Newsday and Parenting. A busy working mother, she offers families advice on many parenting dilemmas, from appeasing picky eaters to finding the perfect babysitter.
