Let’s Play Dress Up!
If there’s anything little girls love to do, it’s to play dress up games, just like the “big girls” do. Since children learn by watching, it becomes a creative game to choose pretty clothes and jewelry, to put them on admire themselves in a mirror.
Cast offs from Mom’s closet or sweet items purchased at the dollar stores will get that little girl started playing at dress up games being a princess, or a fairy or even big sis. Start with some sparkly fairy wings and a crown, and you have a jumping off point for a custom made story where she is the magical heroine that saves the day.
Or perhaps a flowery brimmed hat and some colorful beaded necklaces and she can imagine being at a garden party. It is helpful to have plenty of costume changes on hand, since there may be 2 or even 3 lively little ladies to conjure up a fantastic story.
What’s nice about playing dress up games is that young girls can identify with each other and females in general. This fosters a sense of “belonging” and allows them to play with themes of fantasy such as being a princess, or to play on day-to-day themes like going shopping.
Dress up games for these mundane chores can seem delightful to a little mind and help prepare her for participation in school and other social situations.
But don’t limit the creative play to only fanciful outfits; some plastic flowers in a vase and silly wall art can set the scene as well. Playing dress up games is a great way to encourage the little ones to pretend be whatever characters they think up. This mind stimulating play will help the child grow and develop intellectually. So…let’s play dress up!
