It’s just a bit of dress up, right?

Well, yes. But costumes are not just a way for kids to have fun. They are an essential part of growing up. Dressing up can be a gateway to open up a child’s imagination and develop their emotional and social skills.

Have you ever wondered why every nursery has a dress-up box? Because sometimes you have to become a pirate to channel your inner swashbuckler or a bird to feel you can reach soaring heights. Exploring different characters and imagining what adventures they would have can help build confidence and resilience. Playtime with costumes is always time to discover something new and learn something about yourself.

“Children are stretching their imaginations through different identities and occupations in dress up and practicing their gross and fine motor skills,” Dr Karen Aronian says

“Physical, emotional, cognitive, and sensory exercises are involved in play. From buttoning a jacket to negotiating roles and engaging in teamwork, learning opportunities abound. And they can be further developed with a little extra effort.”

“There are many opportunities to expand literacies by talking about the dress-up scenarios that children fashion.”

Some kids need a colander, a blanket and a stick to become a Martian Magician, for everybody else I make costumes. Let you kids’ imagination run wild and you can be sure they will become great problem solvers in future.

You can read more on education design on Dr Karen Aronian’s webpage, here.

A great article on how dressing up for Halloween is different from “pretend-play” can be found in this interview with Sandra Waite-Stupiansky, PhD.

And Kristen M. Kemple, PHD lists the five most important benefits of wearing a costume during early years education in this article for Guidecraft.