Skip to main content

Jack-in-the-Box Costume

Follow these simple directions to create a Jack-in-the-Box costume.

Jack-in-the-Box Costume

Time: One hour

Effort: Easy - sewing is optional

Materials:

  • Box (to fit over a walker or stroller)
  • Jester hat (or colorful felt and jingle bells)
  • Paint and paintbrush
  • Crank or handle made from rolled up construction paper
  • Needle and thread or glue
  • Face paint

Instructions: Get box to fit over walker or stroller and leave flap to be a lid. Paint box. Tape on the handle. Add the hat and some rosy cheeks to toddler. You can have fun with face paints and add triangles above and below your child's eyes. You can use a store-bought hat or make and decorate one yourself. Use lots of colors and have fun. If making the jester hat, cut out pieces of felt that are shaped like the curvy triangular tops of jester hats. Cut out two of each color you use and sew or glue them together. Sew bell on the tip. Make them fairly short, so they stand up when you sew them to base hat. If you want, you can stuff them with batting or tissue to make them three-dimensional. Base hat can be any kind of stretchy fitted hat that fits your child. Or you can make one by cutting a three-inch-wide piece of felt that's long enough to go around child's head. Sew ends together. Then cut a circle of felt that's big enough to make the top of the hat once it's sewed or glued to the side you just made. Sew three or four of the felt triangles to hat.

Tips: You can tape Polaroid pictures of your child in the jester hat on the box. This is also a great idea for a child in a wheelchair.

More Costume Ideas

Subscribe to Family Education

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe