Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for children. For children with disabilities, Halloween can present challenges. Not many Halloween costumes are created with inclusivity in mind, which doesn't leave many options for children who require specific accommodations.
Parents of children with disabilities often end up tackling Halloween costumes on their own. They come up with some very creative solutions that are pretty awesome. Target is hoping to make things a little easier this year, revealing its first-ever adaptive Halloween costumes.
The costumes follow the popularity of Target's adaptive clothing. Sensory-friendly items and adaptive pieces were first introduced to the Cat & Jack line in 2017. Today, sensory-friendly and adaptive items are available for men, women, and children at Target. This spring, the retail giant even unveiled a collection of sensory-friendly home items.
These Halloween costumes are the next step in its continued effort to grow inclusivity. There are four different costumes already available on Target's website, and they'll be available in stores this fall.
Halloween can be a really exciting time of year for kids. Picking out a cool costume is one of the most exciting parts. For kids with disabilities, it can be a challenge. Not many costumes are created with their needs in mind, making their options much more limited.
That hasn't stopped children with disabilities from having some pretty awesome costumes, thanks to some hard work and help from crafty parents. The results are seriously impressive, but it's still another task that requires additional time.
Target is looking to make things a little easier for these families. This year, the retailer is releasing a collection of four adaptive Halloween costumes in stores and online as part of its Hyde and Eek! Boutique line. The costumes are already available online.
The Girls' Adaptive Princess Halloween Costume includes a long pink dress with gold detailing and a crown. The dress opens in the back for ease of dressing. It's also wheelchair-friendly, making it possible for any little girl to be a princess. The costume is available in sizes S to L and costs $20.
Pair the princess costume with the perfect carriage! The Princess Carriage Halloween Costume Wheelchair Cover attaches to a wheelchair with hook-and-loop closures and works with a variety of wheelchair sizes. There's also a crown cover so that the princess has a matching accessory! It's available for $45.
The Boys' Adaptive Pirate Halloween Costume includes a vest, pants, eye patch, and a pirate hat. The costume has openings along the back for ease of access and is wheelchair-friendly. The legs are also wide enough to put pants on with shoes already on. The costume comes in sizes S to L and is $25.
The Pirate Ship Halloween Costume Wheelchair Cover looks awesome and attaches with hook-and-loop closures to wheelchairs of various sizes. It looks like a ship on the high seas! It also comes with a Jolly Roger flag to complete the look for $45.
There are also sensory-friendly costumes available in toddler sizes 2T-3T and 4T-5T for $25, as well as kids sizes S to XXL for $30. The Adaptive Unicorn Halloween Costume has flat seams and no tags. It comes with a removable hood, wings, and tail to accommodate different sensitivities. It also has hidden abdominal access in an opening in the front pocket.
The Adaptive Plush Shark Halloween Costume features a hood with teeth, as well as back fins. Both are removable to accommodate sensitivities. The costume has flat seams and no tags and also features abdominal access through an opening in the front pocket. It's $25 for toddlers and $30 for older kids.
The decision to add adaptive Halloween costumes to Target's roster comes after the success of the retailer's other sensory-friendly and adaptive items. The children's line, Cat & Jack, has featured these items since 2017. The Adaptive Long Sleeve Hooded Bodysuit in Heather Gray costs just $17.99.
As Julie Guggemos, senior vice president of product design and development, explained in the line's announcement:
“We introduced Cat & Jack with the intention to keep evolving it based on what our guests need. Introducing sensory-friendly pieces is the first step — this fall, we’ll add adaptive pieces to help address the needs of children living with disabilities. This could include styles with zip-off sleeves and side openings that make dressing easier, and pieces that open in the back for those lying down or sitting.”
Not only does Target offer sensory-friendly clothing options for men, women, and children, but it has also ventured into housewares. This Sensory-Friendly Water-Resistant Cocoon Seat With Machine-Washable Cover is just one piece from Target's sensory-friendly home collection and costs $74.99.
In a statement to The Mighty, Target spokesperson Kristen Mezzenga expressed the brand's excitement in bringing inclusivity to Halloween. She noted:
“We’re now bringing that spirit of inclusivity to our new Hyde and Eek! Boutique kids’ adaptive Halloween costumes, which we hope will bring more ease and joy to our guests’ everyday lives. From a fun shark and unicorn to a princess and a pirate, these costumes feature thoughtful details like flat seams and no tags, helping even more kids enjoy the festivities of the fall season.”
While Target is off to a great start with these inclusive options, we hope to see more companies incorporating different people and their different needs. In the meantime, we'll continue applauding the parents who crush it DIY-style and the retailers who lead the way!
