How to Play Dress Up at Home

Many kids enjoy playing dress up games and will entertain themselves at home for hours if they’re given a selection of props and costumes to choose from. These can be authentic costumes bought from fancy dress stores, or can be random items gathered when clearing out closets or bought at thrift stores. Hats, gloves, glasses, feather boas, costume jewelry, belts, wigs and masks are all perfect items to include in your dress up box. Use a large cardboard box or an old suitcase to store items in, ready to rummage through whenever your child feels like dressing up.

Instructions

1. Prepare a dressing-up box by gathering old clothes and accessories from closets or thrift stores. Ask friends and family to contribute any suitable items they may have. Use an old suitcase or large cardboard box to store the items in.

2. Allow your child to search through the box and select whatever items she chooses to wear as an outfit. Alternatively, give her some direction by writing costume ideas on slips of paper and having her choose one. Include classic dress up costumes such as a princess, fairy, mermaid, pop star, fashion model or nurse. For boys, include costumes such as a cowboy, doctor, robot, superhero or rock star. Make sure you have items available in the dress up box to create each costume.

3. If necessary help your child to find suitable items from the box to create his costume. Have a full-length or large mirror available so he can assess how he looks and make any adaptations he wishes.

4. Designate one area of your home, such as the hallway, as the “catwalk” and let your child parade her costume. If possible, have friends or family sit and watch and applaud her efforts. If a group of friends are playing dress up, let them take turns to walk down the catwalk. Take photographs as a memento of the occasion.

5. Allow your child some time for free play while wearing his costume. It may inspire some imaginative role play games.