As the cold weather continues, here are some ideas for creative indoor play!

Dress up play is a fantastic way for kiddos to explore different roles, identities, and to learn rules within our everyday interactions. Here are 6 ways you can use items you already have around the house to encourage dress up play!

1.Old Clothes and Scarves
Dig through your closet for old scarves, hats, oversized shirts, dresses, or ties. These can be turned into capes for superheroes, gowns for royalty, business suits, or snow suits for explorers. The variety and generic nature of these items can help children explore different characters and roles based on their interests

2. Blankets and Towels
Use blankets, bath towels, or beach towels as capes, skirts, or shawls. Pro tip- using a hair tie rather than a knot ti tie a cape makes taking it on and off easier. If you really want to commit, you can add some self-adhesive Velcro to one corner of the towel to make the cape even easier! These items can be draped over shoulders for princesses, superheroes, or even used as tents or forts for imaginative adventures.

3. Cardboard Boxes
Large cardboard boxes can be transformed into anything from a robot suit to a car or spaceship. This activity can be stretched by spending time planning out the construction, building the item, and then decorating! Decorating can include markers, stickers, or fabric scraps, encouraging both imaginative play and crafting, and stretching the use of the new creating for more days.

4. Kitchen Utensils and Pots
Use pots, pans, and utensils from your kitchen to create fun accessories for pretend play. A pot can become a helmet, and wooden spoons can act as magical wands or instruments for cooking and pretend meals. We encourage providing several options of the rarely used items from the kitchen, like a potato masher, slotted spoon, etc. Rather than your daily favorite cooking spoon.

5. Old Shoes and Boots
Unused shoes and boots are perfect for transforming into fun footwear for dress-up. Whether it’s a pair of giant boots for a fantasy character or high heels for a “grown-up” look, they help enhance role-playing experiences. If kiddo has a hard time balancing in your shoes, consider relegating them to use in one specific space (like a carpeted room) in case kiddo is likely to fall. This is also a great way to practice shoe tying!

6. Fabric Scraps and Pillowcases
Repurpose fabric scraps, pillowcases, or old sheets to create costumes or accessories. A pillowcase can be turned into a superhero cape or a knight’s tunic, while fabric pieces can be used to make skirts, sashes, or hats. By drawing a simply outline, you can let kiddo design the outfit they’d like to create and then work together to “sew” it!

There are many, many costumes available for purchase, but our goal was to highlight ways to use already-existing items at home for an impromptu dress up session! Exploring your home for items creates the sense of a treasure hunt, and encourages imagination and re-considering uses for everyday objects. What is your kiddo’s favorite unexpected dress up item from your home?