Benefits of Dress Up

 Remember when you used to play about being a doctor? or a teacher? or how about an astronaut, discovering new galaxies in the universe. As a child I used to play many games in which my imagination would always take me to new places, I would dress up with costumes and be whoever I wanted. But do you actually know the benefits of dress up play for toddlers?

Children dress up in costumes in a natural way, for them this is a way of representing themselves as someone else in a reality they create and believe to be true. As parents we need to encourage this type of games for our children and play with them when they allow us to do so.

It’s very important that we have ready everything that they would need for the game to start, with this I mean a special place or box where they can find all those magical things that will help them transform into anything they want when playing dress up costumes.

What is Dress Up Play?

Dressing up with costumes is one of the most important games in the development of any toddler, it gives them numerous benefits. It is a game where children dress up as their favorite character or as someone they admire, allowing them to dream, hope and use their creativity reflecting their personality and current interests. 

Benefits of Dress Up Play for Toddlers

Playing dress up games with our children is a very important and essential activity for their initial education, not only as a great tool in their development process. Our children are at an age where their minds are like sponges, their imagination has no limits, they’re starting to discover the world and to know themselves. Here are just a few examples of what play dress up can do for your kid. 

Empathy

When transforming into a different person while they play dress up, our children are allowing him or herself to be on someone else’s shoes, to feel what this character is feeling, this increases empathy. Whether pretending to be a policeman, or a firefighter putting out fires, or a prince helping a damsel in distress, dramatic play helps them to understand others and learn what it means to be a helper. 

Creativity & Imagination

Children learn to express themselves with freedom while playing dress up games, they show us their way of perceiving the world and how they develop ideas of the reality around them.

Dressing up with costumes allow our toddlers to explore, to experiment and to create different scenarios for their characters helping them strengthen their imagination and creativity. This is something I see on a daily basis with my child. Some days we are fighting dragons and the next one I might be discovering a new species of fish in the middle of the ocean. 

How to Get Toddlers Interested in Dress Up Play

Mummy’s let’s start by having all the supplies we need, we will also have to put our creative minds to work on this one either by buying some costumes or at least  having the necessary things to create one.

Once this is settled we begin by talking to them, asking them what is their favorite cartoon, or what they want to be when they grow up, encouraging them to act them out, to show us what they are thinking on and help them if necessary.  Most of our kids won’t need much help getting those creative minds to work, so just prepare yourself to enjoy the adventure.

Dress Up for Kids Inspiration

As parents most of the time we close ourselves at being rational, thinking what is best for our kids forgetting that most of the time they are the ones teaching us. During this game, we are going to transform our minds, we will think as them that way we will be able to see the impossible as possible. 

Princess Dress Up for Toddlers

Just to give you a few ideas on how to create a princess costume, you will need a kids party dress or a skirt, white cardboard and yellow markers or yellow cardboard, this is to make the crown. And party shoes, from your closet, a little makeup and that’s it, you are ready to play princess dress up with your toddler. In case you don’t have the materials to do so, here is a link for some princess dresses.