Your Boy Can Become A Knight in Shining Armor With Knight Costumes
Dressing up as a medieval knight is a common pastime among boys who enjoy costumed roleplay (cosplay) or who are asked to dress in costume for a party or event. Whether true to the historical appearance of medieval knights or based on computer graphics or other sources for modern fantasies, knight costumes are enjoyed and favored by boys of all ages when the time comes to wear a creative and original, or a traditional and historical, costume.
The image of a knight begins with armor, even if it was in reality rare for knights to wear heavy body and leg armor except in the heat of battle. Fortunately, armor for knight costumes is not heavy at all, as materials used to create it can include tin foil, cardboard, plastic packaging material, and the like as well as perhaps spray paint. The somewhat rusty and aged appearance of the armor of old can easily be recreated for your young knight in shining armor by allowing him to paint a cardboard box, cut to the shape of a shield, in a metallic color. Styrofoam can also be used, but it is difficult to paint so that covering a Styrofoam frame with fabric is a more practical way of using discarded packing material to help your son create his impermeable shield. Any part of the body which needs to be covered in armor is best covered with the dull side of simple aluminum foil, over socks or leggings so that the foil does not touch and possibly irritate your son’s skin.
A sword is best fashioned from aluminum foil, with cores from paper toweling used as a frame, so that your knight will not hurt anyone or harm anything when jousting with his opponents, who will in any case be his best friends once again as soon as the roleplay or party has ended. A creative boy or group of boys can even fashion a horse to accompany them on their adventures, even if they are actually carrying a small cardboard or plastic steed between their legs when fighting their imaginary battles.
And of course your knight need not be entirely medieval or historically accurate. In any case, there are the great knights of science fiction such as the Jedis of Star Wars fame, which provide inspiration for knight costumes that boys find downright enchanting. A cross between a knight of old and a science fiction character, such as a medieval knight with a computerized laser sword and built-in space age weapon (your old cellphone or even a calculator) dangling from his shield is a great modern take on a costume that has been the favorite of boys for many a generation. Knights are definitely a staple boys costume, and will be for years to come!