Somewhere around February, a note comes home in the backpack: “It’s the 100th Day of School! Dress up as if you’re 100 years old!” Cue the mild panic. Between work, laundry, and everything else on a parent’s plate, pulling together a costume overnight is not most families’ idea of fun.
Here’s the good news. The 100 Days of School tradition, where kids dress as tiny centenarians for a day, is one of the easiest school costume events to pull off well, and one of the easiest to make genuinely inclusive. A wig, a cardigan, and a pair of reading glasses go a long way. So does a little thought about the kids in class who use mobility aids or find scratchy costumes unbearable. Nobody should feel left out of a day that’s supposed to be silly and fun for everyone.
Keep the concept simple
The classic look is an “old person,” and it works because it’s flexible. You’re not chasing an exact character; you’re building a vibe. That means almost any base outfit can become a costume with a few additions: a cardigan, a floral shirt, some suspenders, glasses, and a walking cane. There’s no wrong way to do “grandma” or “grandpa,” which is exactly what makes this event low-stress compared to, say, a specific book character costume.
Ready-made options for busy families
If sewing and hot glue aren’t happening this week, a pre-packaged costume kit solves the problem in minutes. Blossom Costumes’ 100 Days of School collection has grandpa vest sets, floral grandma dresses, grey wigs, round glasses, and walking canes sold individually or as full kits, so a family can grab exactly what they need without buying a whole outfit they’ll never wear again. Buying pieces separately is also the easier route for a child who’s sensitive to certain textures or doesn’t want a full costume at all; a single wig or pair of glasses over their normal clothes can carry the whole joke.
DIY options that take twenty minutes, not a weekend
If you’d rather build it from what’s already at home, this costume is one of the most forgiving to DIY:
- Raid the closet for a cardigan, button-up shirt, or floral dress a size or two big.
- Add reading glasses (lenses popped out if needed), a brooch, and a string of pearls or a bow tie.
- Grey out the hair with baby powder, dry shampoo, or hair chalk instead of a wig, which is often cheaper and more comfortable.
- Draw a few “wrinkles” with an eyebrow pencil, or skip face makeup entirely if your child doesn’t like things on their skin.
- Grab a walking stick, or use a real one if your child already has a cane or walker at home.
Making it work with mobility aids and wheelchairs
This is where 100 Days of School has a built-in advantage over most costume days: canes, walkers, and even wheelchairs already fit the theme. A child who uses a mobility aid every day doesn’t need to hide it or work around it; it can become part of the costume.
A few easy ways to lean into this:
- Wrap a wheelchair frame or walker with ribbon, fabric bows, or a few flowers to match a “fancy grandma” look.
- Add a small sign or spoke decorations that read “100 years young.”
- If a child uses a walking frame already, dress it up rather than adding a prop cane, so nothing feels like an extra, unfamiliar object.
- Ask the child what they’d like to add. Some kids want their mobility aid front and center as part of the fun; others would rather keep the focus on their outfit. Either is a fine answer.
The goal is simply that the costume adds to what a child already uses, instead of asking them to carry or wear something new and awkward on top of it.
Sensory-friendly adjustments that don’t sacrifice the fun
For kids who are sensitive to scratchy fabric, tags, or tight elastic, most 100 Days of School pieces are easy to adapt:
- Skip stiff wigs in favor of powder or chalk on real hair, or a soft cotton cap instead.
- Cut out tags and check seams on any cardigan or dress before the big day.
- Choose real glasses frames without lenses over costume ones, which tend to be lighter and less irritating.
- Let a soft, familiar shirt stand in for a floral dress or button-up if the “real” costume piece feels wrong on the day.
- Treat one or two accessories, like a brooch or a cane, as the whole costume if a full outfit change is too much. It still reads as “old person” to a classroom of five- and six-year-olds.
For more general guidance on adapting costumes to sensory needs year-round, Understood.org’s guide to sensory-friendly costumes has useful, low-cost ideas that apply well beyond Halloween.
Not into “old person”? There’s room for other ideas too
The aged-up look isn’t mandatory at every school. If your child’s class allows other interpretations of “100,” there’s plenty of room to be creative without extra pressure:
- A shirt with “100” written on it in marker, paired with everyday clothes.
- 100 dalmatian spots stuck onto a plain white outfit.
- A “100 days smarter” graduation cap over normal clothes.
- A jar or bag labeled “100 things I love,” carried instead of worn.
These options are worth keeping in your back pocket for a child who’d rather not wear a costume at all but still wants to take part.
A quick checklist before the big day
- Confirm what the school actually expects (full costume, or just a themed shirt).
- Ask your child what they want to wear, not just what looks cutest in photos.
- Test any wig, glasses, or fabric at home first, ideally a day or two ahead.
- If your child uses a mobility aid, decide together whether to decorate it or keep it as-is.
- Pack a backup plain shirt in the school bag, just in case.
FAQ
Does every kid have to wear a full costume?
No. Most schools are happy with a themed shirt, a single accessory, or a “100” sign. The spirit of the day matters more than a complete outfit.
What’s the cheapest way to do this costume?
Raiding a family member’s closet for an oversized cardigan or floral shirt, plus a pair of reading glasses, usually costs nothing at all.
How do I make a wheelchair or walker part of the costume without singling out my child?
Frame it as decorating, the same way you might decorate a cane or add a hat. Ask your child what they’d like, and keep changes light and easy to remove.
Are there tag-free or seam-free options for sensitive skin?
Yes. Many ready-made costume pieces, like vests and simple dresses, can have tags cut out, and accessories like glasses or a cane avoid fabric altogether.
What if my child doesn’t want to dress up at all?
That’s fine too. A themed pencil, a “100 days” badge, or simply talking about the milestone with the class covers the same ground without any costume at all.
100 Days of School is meant to be a fun, low-stakes milestone, not another thing on the to-do list that stresses anyone out. With a mix of ready-made pieces and simple additions from home, and a little thought for kids who use mobility aids or have sensory needs, every child in the class can join in without anyone feeling left out.
