The best dress up wardrobe ever
Aug 19 '01
The Bottom Line .
For many children, dress up clothes are a staple of imaginative play. They enhance existing pretend games, and help children come up with new ones. Dress up clothes can be used alone or with playmates. They're simple components of a child's toy collection, and best of all- they don't have to cost a lot of money!
Clothes and accessories can be easily found at places such as thrift stores and garage sales. Children of both genders particularly enjoy different kinds of hats. (Mom or Dad can spray these with some type of antibacterial substance if they're concerned!) Purses, costume jewelry, and different kinds of clothes can also be found at these types of places. Be careful with costume jewelry is your children are young, or there are younger siblings around. Old string can often be weak, and break easily after sustained play, sending beads flying everywhere. If this is of special concern, you may just want to purchase child size costume jewelry instead.
Clothes don't need to be fancy or complex. Old prom dresses, no matter how outdated, make fabulous princess gear. Large tee shirts in bright colors, jackets, men's shirts and the like also work well. Be sure to inspect zippers prior to purchase. As with old costume jewelry, repetitive play can cause them to become loose. If you do any sewing, you could perhaps stitch it yourself. If not, pass zippers that don't look too stable for pieces that are in better shape. (Likewise with buttons. The younger the child, the bigger the buttons should ideally be.) Don't nessecarily let details stop you if you find a piece you think your child would really enjoy. Sometimes it is especially fun to keep a few "special" pieces that can only be played with while mom or dad is around. Speaking of mom and dad, don't forget about pieces from the family's closet! While the sweater that has a hole in it may not please dad anymore, it might be a great addition to a dress up wardrobe! Same with flat shoes, older sibling's clothes, etc.
Thrift stores and garage sales aren't the only place to look though. Party stores often have a nice selection of hats and fun accessories priced relatively cheaply. Often the quality isn't fabulous, so you may need a special place to store these items. However, it is definitely worth taking a look. Stop by after Halloween too, as prices for costumes are usually at least cut in half. The variety of characters and accessories might not be as good as it was before the holiday, but great pieces can often be found nonetheless. (And don't forget about old Halloween costumes!)
Storage of dress up items can be as easy or elaborate as you wish. Rubbermaid containers can be purchased inexpensively, and can be thematically decorated with stickers. (Additionally, they usually come in bright colors, which are generally appealing to kids.) Another option is to purchase kid size closet organizers. The biggest benefit to choosing these pieces is that they are usually quite durable. Additionally, they can be added as needed- depending on how much your child enjoys organizing the pieces of their "wardrobe" and how much it grows over time.
Purchasing a child size set can also help promote skills that can be useful in "real life". For example, a rod with a few kidsize hangers can teach a child how to hang their clothing. Shelves and drawers can separate accessories from scarves, and so forth. They can also be used to separate "boys" stuff from "girls" stuff, should the items be shared in a playroom environment.
Basically, when choosing play clothes, remember that childrens' imaginations don't set boundaries. Something as simple as a bandana can be the piece for anything from a movie star to a cowboy. Choose things that are safe of course, and that look versatile and fun. Remember that dress up clothes need not be "in style" and that the most fun pieces usually aren't. Don't get too caught up in the aisle of a toy store that's filled with pretty coordinating outfits- kids usually do their own thing anyway!
Every once in a while, even the best cared for dress up wardrobe will need a little maintenance. Wash all clothes that can be machine washed, and soak all others in Woolite. Check ALL pieces for loose fasteners, as well as rips or tears that could be dangerous. This will ensure the safety of your kids and prolong the life of dress up pieces.
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