Boys and girls need dress-up play because it inspires imaginative thinking, sophisticated vocabulary, and problem solving. Plus, playing with others improves a child's social skills and cooperation.
Don't worry, it's not too hard to stock up on dress-up clothes.
And, if you have dress-up clothes, you might not need to buy a Halloween costume. That's what we did for years! Most years, our Halloween costumes came from our dress-up clothes. Last year, when my 8 year old daughter wanted to be Hermione from Harry Potter, it was the first time I actually bought a Halloween costume. Think of all the money I saved for eight years!
Let me offer a few suggestions to get you started and organized with your own dress-up clothes stash.
Good Containers for Dress-Up Clothes
- Laundry hampers
- Garbage bins
- Large Rubbermaid boxes
- Large wicker baskets
- Large cardboard boxes
- Suitcases
Shopping Ideas for Dress-Up Clothes
- Thrift stores
- After-Halloween sales
- Garage sales
- eBay
- Cleaning out
- Specialty toy stores (like Imagine Toys!)
Awesome Dress-Up Clothes Accessories and Props
- Scarves
- Hats
- Shoes
- Jewelry
- Purses
- Swords
- Makeup
- Tiaras
- Sunglasses
- Wings
- Dolls
- Boas
- Doctor's kit
- Neckties
- Gloves
- Crazy socks
- Empty perfume bottles
- Cape
- Hard hat
Playing Dress-Up – Thematic Ideas
- Mother / Father
- Doctor
- Vet
- Zoo Keeper
- Pirate
- Princess
- Movie Star
- Explorer
- Book Character
- Cowboy / girl
- Ballerina
- Firefighter
- Superhero
- Fairy
Halloween is coming – but you can start now. Why not wear your costumes more than once on Halloween. How about all year around?
