Back in the day, when Halloween rolled around, kid’s toted around a little orange box that kind of looked like a juice box (and later a box of animal crackers!). But they were so much more.

Here’s the story behind that little orange box.

Image: Book or Treat

It started with a school teacher named Mrs. Allison who saw her children’s heavy bags of candy every Halloween and thought all that neighborly fun could be used for good—not just potential cavities. Around that time, she saw a parade led by UNICEF trying to raise money to supply milk to undernourished countries across the sea. Mrs. Allison was so inspired by the parade that she came up with the idea of having children ask for money on behalf of UNICEF as they were trick or treating on Halloween—collected in milk cartons!

Image: Washington Post

What started in Philadelphia in 1950 caught on and UNICEF started receiving checks from schools across the nation. And “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!” was born.

It became so big that TV shows started helping—there was even an entire episode of Bewitched dedicated to UNICEF. Oh, how I would have loved to have seen that!

Image: Book or Treat

Even The Brady Bunch joined in the fun.

And Betsy McCall, the famous McCall paper doll, dedicated a whole page of Halloween cuteness to the cause!

Image: ClutterShop

It has been more than sixty years since Mrs. Allison came up with her terrific idea and nearly $170 million have been raised by kids toting UNICEF collection boxes on Halloween calling out “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!” These funds that have enabled UNICEF to save and improve children’s lives by providing health care, improved nutrition, clean water, education and more.

In 2004, UNICEF took their Trick Or Treat fundraising online and as a result we don’t see too many of those little orange boxes. But Mrs. Allison’s wonderful idea, and the power of UNICEF, continues to change the world.

To see how you can get involved with Trick or Treat for UNICEF, check out their site! Did you ever carry a UNICEF carton?

Thanks to the Wasthington Post, Book or Treat and Child of the Sixties Forever.

We love h&m around these parts. They make the best jeans for little dudes and have such cute stuff for little girls. So it shouldn’t have come as any surprise that when they decided to do Halloween costumes for kiddos they kinda hit it out of the park. Check out these crazy cute little ensembles. The suave pirate? That tattoo man pulloever?? The mini Marie Antoinette? LOVE. And there are tons more, like a cool mermaid and a beetlejuice inspired stripey suit for boys and girls.

One of the things I love most is that most of these costumes are totally flexible—you can get a variety of costumes out of each! (Pirate coat = Swashbuckler! George Washington! Mozart! Headless Horseman!) I’m also imagining many a kiddo wanting to wear some of these in every day life too, the quality is really excellent.

But really, the best part is that 25% of all the proceeds go directly to the UNICEF All For The Children fund. Yup, 25%. Nice one H&M!

You can buy them in store or nab them online here.

I’ve already been getting some amazingly awesome Homemade Halloween costumes from people…..but I’m greedy….I still want MORE! Did you make an outfit for your child last year? Was is spectacular? Or was it a fiasco? Either way, we want to see! Just drop me a note at Alix {at} modernkiddo.com. These DO NOT have to be vintage photos. In fact, the more recent the better!

Here are some highlights from last year’s Costume Parade:

Beautiful Bela is one of the most creative kiddos I know—as is her mama Karen (of Misha Lulu fame). Check out this phenomenal Alice in Wonderland costume….complete with Rabbit’s house. Curiouser and curiouser!

Katrina (CaliKatrina) stole my heart with the simplicity of her little Ewan in this little ghost. It’s SO Charlie Brown, I just love it!

OMG, would you get a load of Sarah Ivy’s amazing son Finn as Baby Bowie???? This kid, I tell ya.

How about this adorable (a-thorable??) Thor! Amazing mom Cheri (i am momma hear me roar) made this rad out fit for her little guy!

I’ve seen quite a few little Snow Whites in my time, but honestly little Stella is just 10x cuter than most! Thanks to Melissa of (whileitrains) for sending her our way!

I love simple and sweet costumes and this one is awesome! Little Eames as Elmer Fudd! Whaddup putty tatt??

OK. This is amazing. Carrie Anne (thelittlebigblog) turned her sweet cutie into Baby Sushi. BABY SUSHI!!!! Cuddly and cute.

Well, HELLO DOLLY! This might be the cutest thing I have ever seen! Mama Stacey (hartandsew) turned her sweet Little Miss into a wind up dolly.

And our Hall of Famer: two years ago little Olive blew people’s minds with this darling rainbow.  Her mama Greta (from LayerCakeShop.com) is so talented! (And no she can’t make you one friends…even though we receive SO MANY emails from people asking if they can buy this!).

OK people…send me those costumes! Even if it turned out a little wonky, we love them ALL! Alix [at] modernkiddo .com