Kids love imaginative play, and one of the best ways to encourage creativity and self expression is through dress-up. Allowing kids to be their favorite action hero, cartoon character, or even an imaginary friend with the help of a few costume props helps to keep kids away from tv and video games, too. Here’s how to create a child’s dress up box that you can pull out on the next rainy afternoon.
Instructions
1. Use a wardrobe-size moving box (available at storage rental facilities or U-Haul), or purchase a cardboard underbed-size box from the dollar store. You can also try using a plastic blanket storage chest (Rubbermaid and the like) available at department stores for about $10. The clear boxes are good because you can see the contents.
2. Go through your family’s closets and set aside old evening dresses, tuxedos, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, dyed-to-match shoes, and even bathrobes in silky fabrics and pretty colors. These are great for dress-up as kings and queens. Go to the dollar store and add plastic tiaras, gloves, high heeled plastic slippers, and feather boas. Add eye patches and plastic swords for pirate dress-up costumes.
3. Make a visit to the Army/Navy surplus store and forage for cool vintage uniforms for your box. You can also find knapsacks, GI-Joe style combat boots, helmets, and more.
4. Seek out lab coats, chef coats, hats and artist smocks at the thrift store, where you also may find old fur stoles, capes and evening bags. Look for colorful scarves that can be twisted into turbans. Multi-colored knee socks and oversized shoes are good for clown outfits.
5. Add a clear plastic bag filled with dimestore make-up, such as rouge, lipstick and wax crayons for drawing on eyebrows and beauty marks.
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