Dress-up is a fun childhood activity that can be done during playtime or even during birthday parties. Creating a game out of dress-up adds a bit of structure to this activity. Dress up games can be centered around a theme of a party, or simply created for a play date.
The classic form of dress-up for children entails a random activity: finding items around the house to create an outfit. Either instruct the children to get a certain number of items from closets in the house, or give each child a bag of items, with the idea that they are supposed to create the most random outfit possible. Try giving the children a time limit, then have them vote on whose outfit is the best.
Hand out a large bag of fabric scraps, scissors and strong tape, like duct tape. Have the children create outfits from these materials. Demonstrate a few possible ways to make clothing by tying or taping together two scraps. Time the activity and judge the outfits when done. A simpler variation of this game would be creating the clothing using only the scraps, no scissors or tape, by just tying the scraps together.
Paper bags can have many functions other than carrying items. Using paper bags, markers, scissors and tape, have the children create outfits. Show them how tape can be used to form the bags into a wearable piece of clothing. This activity can be paired with a runway show, allowing the children to dress up and show off their new clothes.
Another fun dress up games are to instruct the children to change their identity, creating a costume in which they are unrecognizable. Give them clothes and makeup and have them create the costumes in a different room, revealing their new look at the end of the game. The child whose look is most unrecognizable wins the game. A variation of these dress up games are to pair the children together and have each of them dress up his or her partner.
