Kids love playing dress up; it allows them to explore their imagination and creativity.
When I was growing up, my dad was a fantastic costume designer. He could make shield out of papier mache, a soda can out of a barrel, and a headless horseman out of a trench coat and foam.
He was my hero. I was the kind of child who loved to dress up and play outside all day long. As I have grown older, I have made my share of stellar costumes and I encouraged my kids to have a costume box for make-believe.
There are so many kids who are discouraged from doing this, but it is this behaviour that teaches them to solve problems on their own and to visualise people in their mind, not to mention develop social skills early on. However, many children are told to stop being silly, that dressing up is odd, or that acting out a “scene” means they are crazy.
Is that what you really think?
This year, for Christmas, give the best gift a child can get … a little costume kit.
They may or may not have props and toys that spark that imagination, so provide that for them. This doesn’t mean going overboard; a little kit that helps them flex those brain muscles will be most appreciated!
I remember a year when Santa appeared at our family party and handed out presents. I slowly unwrapped mine as I watched my other cousins. To be honest, I can’t even remember what I got that year. But I do remember that my older cousin opened up this fabulous doctor’s kit that had been put together by my aunt who is a nurse. It had the authentic medicine bottles filled with candy, a stethoscope, a thermometer, and bandages. I had dreamed of becoming a doctor and I really wanted that kit.
So, what should you include in a costume kit?
Well, what does your child like? Is there something special that you could open their eyes to like my aunt did? Let us just pretend that you want to make a princess kit.
- A pretty box that everything will fit into.
- A crown
- A wand (easily made with a rod, ribbon, and a star of paper or plastic)
- Pretty shoes like embellished ballet slippers
- White gloves
- A sparkly scarf
- Costume jewellery like large rings and long necklaces
Be sure that whatever you put in that box is not going to be a choking hazard. Just those few items will be enough for a little girl to imagine she is a pretty princess from another time.
Having Mum fashion her hair will make her delighted. My sons always liked “eyeliner moustaches.”
If you wanted to make up a really generic box, contribute scarves, bandanas, hats, jewellery, and gloves. Kids are amazing at making something out of almost nothing.
Make a video recording of your child for later years. I have a son who loved to dress up as Jack Sparrow … every day. I have snapshots of him so serious in his own little world. He was about four years old. Do you know how many times I want to just kick myself for never getting him on video?
I feel in my heart that children who are nurtured to use their imagination early on are very creative people and very social. I say this because I am a writer and I have that “vision.”
Both of my younger boys are very social beings and are involved in theatre. They also love to write and fill notebooks with their stories. My two older sons were encouraged to use their imagination, but sadly, not as actively as my younger two.
My eldest will write a little; he is very quiet. My second son will not read or write stories and he will not socialise much at all. He prefers to study at lunch and stay in his room at home. Believe me, I wonder how different they would be had I given them those tools sooner.
I do feel that a part of a healthy active life is to encourage roleplaying and make-believe. Politically correct children are quite serious … just watch Miracle on 34th Street!
Maddy Olson blogs on a variety of subjects. Writing about life's greatest experiences is a very rewarding passion the mother of four enjoys.
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