I love to watch my little nieces play dress up in their frilly little tutus and fun princess wear. They love to put sparkly tiaras on and walk around in mommy’s high heels. Nothing could be cuter until you stop and think about how unrealistic playing ‘dress up like a princess’ really is. Don’t get me wrong- I love dress up, but there has got to be 101 costume ideas for little kids to dress up in and engage in imaginary play that is a bit more realistic and perhaps beneficial.
Kids should be able to imagine themselves as anything they want to be (from princesses to the president) and having amble dress up gear is great. Playing dress up is much more than just putting on some clothes, it goes to a much deeper developmental aspect for kids in which they emulate the characteristics of the costume. Finding creative and realistic dress up clothing can really help to develop a child’s personality, imagination, and beliefs about careers. I found this totally adorable Chefs Costume (for boys and girls) and had to see what my nieces thought- they loved it! Not only did they dress up in and have fun playing ‘restaurant’ they actually got really excited about making a meal for their parents! (I helped of course) but it was so much fun.
The Melissa & Doug Costumes are perfect- totally gender neutral and offer a ton of great ways to play dress up in a more realistic way! The Chef dress-up set includes a hat, wooden utensils, oven mitt, jacket, measuring spoons, salt & pepper shakers, and a working timer. A name tag in a clear plastic pocket personalizes the costume. Approximately fits ages 3-6. Find more classic, outdoor and educational toys from Melissa & Doug.
