Kids Search For The Perfect Costume

Remember the old days when Mom made your costume for Halloween? These days, little ones are opting to dress like their heroes and teenagers are searching for a one-of-a-kind look for trick-or-treating and parties.

Movies, cartoons and television shows continue to influence youngsters, offering a chance to live out their childhood dreams of superpowers and princess-like personalities.

Six-year-old Rilynn Sexson is going to dress up as Lego Batman for Halloween because his alter ego simply has to be lived out.

“I am Batman!”

He wants to be Batman “because Batman is awesome,” he said.

Bryce Gibbens, 5, also wants to be Batman for Halloween. His sisters, Marley, 6, and Kelsey, 3, are going to be Elsa and Anna from “Frozen.”

The girls are big fans of the movie, said Grandma Karla McNorton.

While some children like movie-influenced costumes, local teens are searching for something different, said Jane Walmart operations manager Chris Goodin.

Maskimals — big, giant animal heads — are selling quickly, Goodin said.

“We’ve gone through quite a few pallets of them,” he said.

The brand new big mask with air vents features five or six designs. People wear the entire animal head over their head and face.

Teenagers really seem to like the Maskimals, he said.

Large “onesies,” that look like a cow outfit and other animals, also are popular, he said.

Teens are purchasing the onesies and Maskimals to create their own specially-designed costume.

Goodin thinks those two items have soared in popularity this year because they’re so unique.

“They’re something different.”

Goodin also has seen an early spike in Halloween purchases.

The store usually sees a last-minute rush right before Halloween, but this year, customers have purchased their costumes earlier than usual.

Sales are definitely better this year than last year at this time, he said.