The Benefits of Dress-Up Play

by Keri Wilmot View Bio

Keri Wilmot

Keri Wilmot from ToyQueen.com is an occupational therapist, toy expert, Dallas blogger and parent, who shares popular toy reviews, tips and toy unboxings.

Keri is a full-time pediatric occupational therapist. With more than 18 years of clinical experience, professionally Keri specializes in working with infants, young children and their families by promoting developmental milestones in clients' homes, in the public school system and in the community.

Over time it was clear that Keri had developed a talent for finding developmental toys that promoted a child's educational skills, in fun, natural and playful ways. ToyQueen.com and its various social media channels (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) were developed to be an online resource that reviews toys, games, attractions, events, movies, experiences and baby products for their developmental qualities, with the goal to help all parents and caregivers learn practical ways to play everyday with their children through unique products and experiences.

The Halloween season is a fun and exciting time of the year for kids and parents to create unique costumes that represent a fun idea, career, theme or favorite character from a book, movie or television show.

Given, there are so many benefits to dress-up play, role playing in costume is a great activity to promote throughout the year, so do not limit the fun and learning to only a few weeks in October!

“Dress-up play allows anyone to dream, hope, and use their imagination. It gives kids permission to pretend to be someone or something different and extraordinary that reflects their personality and current interests and promotes more independence by allowing kids to practice self-care skills.”

Costumes require kids to put on and take off accessories and articles of clothing like shirts, pants, and jackets. Learning to fasten buttons, Velcro, zippers and snaps can be frustrating, but it can be a lot more motivating to learn them when they are a necessary requirement to transform into your favorite superhero!

Dress-up play is more than just physically wearing a costume. When “in character” kids role play. They imitate the character’s mannerisms and may even create their own special traits and themes, which encourages kids to “think outside of the box,” practice different emotions, and use their language skills to communicate too.

Here are six simple ways to promote and inspire fun dress-up play at home all year round:

1. Create a dress-up bin or box and leave it in the play room. Stock a laundry basket, box or cubby full of oversized clothes and accessories like bright scarves, fancy shoes, mismatched socks, baseball hats, sunglasses, boas, sports jerseys, aprons, princess dresses, and costume jewelry. Having these fun items readily available in the play area will inspire kids to want to use costumes and accessories in their everyday play.


2. Want to add some fun costumes on a budget? Take a trip to a local thrift shop, consignment shop or dollar store where you might find some additional clothing and accessory items to add to the dress-up box, which won’t break the bank and can inspire their creativity. Pinterest often has simple DIY crafts to easily turn sweatshirts and other clothing into costumes too.


3. Does your child have an interest in a specific character? Inquire about costumes in neighborhood online yard sale groups, do a costume exchange with friends, or buy extra costumes in larger sizes at the end of the season when they are on sale to use throughout the year as they grow.


4. Is there a budding fashion designer at home? Leave colored pencils, paper, markers, and other arts-and-crafts items nearby so kids can draw up plans for new outfits or create signs and props to use while dressing up.


5. Don’t get all dressed up and stay home! Take the kids on errands, whether it’s a ride in the car, or a trip to the park or supermarket when they are in costume! Facebook has happily reminded me of a photo I once posted of my own son at the age of four, wearing his favorite blue Wild Kratts dress-up vest. While seated in a supermarket shopping cart, as we used our imagination to search for animals with creature powers and picked up groceries at the same time. Especially for those errands the kids do not always enjoy, pairing up something fun and new can make the mundane a lot more exciting and enjoyable!


6. Go get that camera! Capture selfies and these exciting moments using photos and videos to create long-lasting memories that you can share together, year after year!

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