Grrrr….little hands outstretched and fingers like claws, the tiger raced outside to chase his friends around the garden, followed by the leopard and Superman! A princess soon joined in and she had her baby in a pram as she walked into the garden with her mom and a friend alongside carrying handbags and draped in necklaces, saying they were off shopping! Not an unusual event in my play school, and one that I just loved watching unfold after opening the dress up box for the children during free play.
Dress-up encourages creative thinking and communication skills, as the children chat and discuss who is doing what and where they are going. They help each other get dressed, sometimes needing an adult to assist, and then one takes off and the others run along too. The fun and laughter that follows is wonderful to witness. Yes, sometimes a few tears need to be wiped or safety provided from the tiger’s claws, but after giving some comfort and suggesting the tiger find another victim (more willing to be chased), generally all would be well and the games would continue. Some would just watch the play and not take part, and that is fine for a while, but eventually one day they would join in too. I would always be encouraging, but never try to force a child. Most would join in with time. The fun and laughter was too much to resist!
So much benefit comes from fancy dress and creative play. Language and social skills are practiced, and playing together with others require some effort and co-operation. Children learn to share and work together, so they really do learn so many life skills through play…..and they have fun and (mostly) happy times! Little arguments and altercations will happen, and it is best to see if they can sort them out between themselves. If one has to get involved, I always tried asking them questions to get to a happy solution, so they had to think and consider the others involved. All part of the learning experience. Imaginative and creative play helps children learn problem-solving skills as they learn to play together nicely and happily.
Of course, dressing up also helps develop fine and gross motor muscle skills as they get dressed and pull clothes on, fit a crown, pull on a skirt or tie a belt for example, and then go running from the tiger or pushing a pram or reaching up to get to the cups and saucers in the Wendy house where the princess and her mother live etc! So more than just their imaginations are stretched in playing dress up.
I had a kist full of dress up stuff in my class room, and very little was bought. Three outfits that were bought, out of interest, were an air hostess one and two identical nurses outfits, which my grandparents had given me and my twin sisters back in the 70s!! They were bought overseas and were used and loved back then, and by my own children as they grew up in the 90s, and then again over 21 years in my play school from 2000 to 2021! Guess what – I still have them for my grandchildren one day! Wish I could tell my grandmother now how her money was so well spent all those years back in Hong Kong, as I believe it truly was! However, most bits and pieces were gathered over the years, from scarves, hats, plastic crowns, bags and old bits of clothing and jewelry, to some of my old shoes, plastic swords and magic wands, and then mermaid and cat outfits, waistcoats and red cloaks (so useful for Superman, little Red Riding Hood, for Halloween or as a dragon….endless possibilities). I made much of the latter over the years for my children when they were young, which then ended up in the dress up kist. I will supply a few patterns for those who would like to get sewing. I never had patterns, so cannot promise all the instructions that come with patterns – I used my imagination and generally had good results in the end.
There is no need to invest in expensive dress up outfits and items. So much can be sourced from around the house, and then a small investment in a few good items will give your child so much pleasure and it is essential for their well being. Blankets over tables create lovely secret hiding places and we used to make a tunnel regularly by covering a low rectangular table and leaving the shorter ends opposite each other open. Large cardboard boxes can be lots of fun, and then a hosepipe can be wound around an area for a fence or to be a river etc. A plastic tea set is almost an essential and will be well used, so is well worth investing in, and they are not expensive. Old baby clothes and dolls obviously are great, and a pram and one or two other things children can push around the garden are popular. I made a doctor’s bag up myself, with a few plasters and bandages, a plastic syringe and a stethoscope I picked up for next to nothing somewhere, and it was hugely popular! Use your imagination, and try recycling for things you can make up at home, using utensils, bits of old fabric, packaging and things from around the house. A small plastic table and a few chairs are so worth investing in as well for when little people are around. We did our baking sessions at these little tables as well of course. For a baking holiday school day, I sometimes made chef’s hats up with newspaper for each child. I will show how I did that too.
Dress up and imaginative play are essential for the emotional and social development of any child, and so much more is gained as well, apart from the overall FUN of fancy dress play, of course. After all, some of the best parties I have attended over my lifetime, especially as an adult, have been the fancy dress ones! Everyone lets their hair down a bit and relaxes and enjoys themselves just that little bit more – children too!