• Halloween Pumpkinshalloween image by Nicolas D from Fotolia.com
  
  It can be very tricky to find a Halloween costume for your thirteen-year-old son or daughter. Your tween wants to dress a little more mature this year, and you want make sure he or she is stepping out into the world in an age appropriate costume. There are several ideas that will make both you and your young adult happy this October 31st.
  
  

Hippie

• Many teenage girls and boys are fascinated with the music, movies and culture of the 1960's. Place your tween into a time machine and transport them back to this decade by dressing him or her up as a hippie. Head to your local thrift store or raid the boxes in your garage to find clothing that fits into this theme. Pieces may include bell bottoms, a leather fringe coat, a rock t-shirt, a leather head band and a pair of circular, colored sunglasses. Place a long, straight wig onto your hippie, draw flowers on their cheeks and teach him or her how to make a peace sign with their fingers.
  
  

Vampire

• Vampires have been pop culture staples for several decades, and very recently their popularity has grown thanks to movies, television and teen literature, such as the "Twilight" series, which were first released in 2006. You may have a teenager that is fascinated by these blood sucking creatures of the night. Instead of dressing your tween in a traditional vampire costume, a cape, white dress shirt, black pants and a slicked back hairdo, give him or her a more modern look by having him or her dress in a gray and black outfit. Help your teen paint his or her face and neck white and darken the area around the eyes with black eyeshadow. Finish the look off with a pair of sunglasses, a black trench coat and a pair of fangs.
  
  

Zombie Cartoon Character

• Many 13-year-old kids are losing interest in watching Saturday morning cartoons and reading comic books. Help your tween make a symbolic transition into young adult hood by taking one of his or her favorite childhood cartoon characters and making it into a flesh eating, evil zombie. For instance, if your teenager always loved a cartoon mouse, make him or her a pair of blood soaked ears, paint his or her face and body white, cover a white t-shirt with fake blood stains and send your zombie mouse out to trick or treat.