If you’re a Star Wars fan, I’m guessing you have plenty of stuff lying around that will alert people to that fact: action figures, t-shirts, bed sheets, or even breakfast cereal. Your fanaticism has no end and you show it with pride! Why wouldn’t you be? It is one of the best movie franchises of all time. It is modern stories like this film that inform us what the experience of life is all about. Most people see Star Wars for the first time as children and never look back. They are hooked and the influence resonates for life. But like anyone else you get older, you get married, you have a career and you have children. Once you have children of your own, it’s up to you to instill that Star Wars influence into the next generation so that they can appreciate and carry the messages and meanings of the films to their children and their children’s children. A fun way to introduce your toddler to Star Wars is through Star Wars costumes and playtime. Fantasy will help them feel immersed and engaged with the galaxy far, far away.
George Lucas has said that the little droid R2-D2 is supposed to be like a little child. He is emotional, prone to tantrums, but he is also very courageous and incredibly lovable. His little boy certainly looks a lot like R2-D2! This is a great costume idea for your little one. They’ll love making droid beeps and boops just like the ones in the movies. Your little one is the perfect size to take on the role of the iconic droid. Some playtime ideas are that you can become C-3PO and the two of you can become the droid duo, investigating the forest moon of Endor (aka the backyard). This is definitely a fun way to introduce Star Wars into your toddler’s life.
Most children will want to be good. They will want to use the light side of the force as a Jedi or fight for the cause of the Rebellion. Then there are the little kids who have a mischievous streak and revel in the opportunity to be a little nasty. This is the little boy who is going to want to be the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader! It’ll be quite a fun juxtaposition when your smiling toddler dons the black Darth Vader costume (just be careful not to teach him the dark side!). They’ll love being the villain, while you can play the Emperor and little Vader as your apprentice. Or you could even pretend to be a Jedi while they’re pretending to be your enemies, despite all the laughing and smiling.
Master Yoda is a perfect costume for young children! They are the perfect size! Make a little hut in the backyard and name it Dagobah. The two can learn the ways of the force by running, jumping, and learning to fence with a lightsaber. Like Yoda, an Ewok or a Jawa are perfectly sized Star Wars characters for a young child. They’ll love being any of these Star Wars characters, as long as they dress up and play!
Star Wars is a wonderful thing that needs to be passed down to the next generation. If you use Star Wars as a basis for making up fantasies with your children, they will love the movies and have fond memories of playing Star Wars with mom and dad in the backyard. A great place to find costumes for kids and adults is http://www.halloweencostumes.net/star-wars-costumes.html. They have stuff from the Star Wars and Clone Wars trilogies. Star Wars will stay alive in people’s hearts and minds when you bring it home and use it as an impetus to interact with your children at an influential age.
