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As a self confessed drama queen from a very young age with a lifetime collection of dressups in an ever expanding wardrobe, I am a huge fan of encouraging dress up play. Especially in an era where the multitude of t.v channel options or iPad may often be the go-to option for entertainment.
Playing dress ups is a common childhood rite of passage that on the surface may simply appear to be about fun and games, but it also provides many physical, social and emotional benefits in the process.
While our children wriggle into their make-believe characters, they are practising their fine motor skills doing up buttons, zips, and/or velcro. Their developing coordination is getting a workout as they put on and take off shirts, skirts, wings and capes all contributing to their development of self care skills.
"Playing dressups is a common childhood rite of passage that on the surface may simply appear to be about fun and games, but it also provides many physical, social and emotional benefits in the process”.
Your budding superhero, Peppa Pig, or magic fairy princess builds confidence in their imagination, creativity and perseverance while giving you lucky front row seats to their personality and current interests. The art of dramatic play also helps them to understand others; while pretending to be someone or something else like a firefighter fearlessly putting out fires or doctor tenderly tending to a sick patient, they have the opportunity to put themselves in others' shoes and develop empathy in the process.
As they babble or talk through imaginary scenarios, creative thinking and communication pathways are being fired in their brain and while they practise sharing and taking turns with their siblings or friends, they are being introduced to the concepts of cooperation and teamwork.
So many vital skills and neural pathways are busily being honed whilst our twirling, jumping, children transform and engage in their imaginary worlds. This super fun playtime activity practices occupational therapy, speech therapy, social skills and emotional skills all at once.
If you haven’t already, create a dress up box and start a collection of accessories that can be used in imaginary ways. It doesn’t need to be filled with expensive costumes.Through the eyes of a child a colander can be a space helmet, a towel with a peg? Voila- a cape. Cardboard and ribbon can make a batman mask, and a wooden spoon - a magical wand.
A magic marker can transform your animal loving toddler into a purring kitten with whiskers, and a thermometer and box of bandaids? Perfect for your budding doctor.
And who is to say the benefits stop in childhood?? I for one, can never get enough and intend to continue to glean the benefit of remaining young at heart with my bursting wardrobe of dressup accessories!