An important play experience every child needs is dressing up in costumes. While playing superheros today, pirates tomorrow, lords and ladies at one tea party the next day, it’s what they are naturally seeking. The rituals positively affect their development because all such costumes which they use emphasise the scenarios in their imaginations. Here are benefits children get from playing with costumes.
Imagination;
Children’s imaginations are open and limitless. Their minds can reach anywhere as they aren’t constrained by their knowledge. As they don’t know any better, they’ll make connections adults could never make. They link their inventive tails to reality for a little time for the opportunity to thoroughly explore it further when, they play dress up. For example, you child rehearses community service, bravery and helping others when he wears a fireman’s hat.
Self exploration;
Circus costumes could make children pretend to be members of a circus. They try new behaviours and ideas when they pretend to be other individuals. They can decide what they do and don’t like, explore elements of a different identity and become their former selves whenever they like. Your child can decide to play cowboy and feel he can’t work on the farm. But his love for animals makes him decide to play a veterinarian.
Gender recognition;
Most individuals fall into standard categories even though there are no preset gender recognition rules. Children try varying gender identities and related characters as they play with costumes. Male children are normally drawn to fathers, heroes, servicemen and builders. Females are drawn to mothers, dancers, artists and teachers. As they discover themselves, it’s normal that children try on different gender roles.
A sign that even as they try on varying roles they still recognise their gender is that; you hardly see a male child wanting to wear snow white costumes as he knows it’s meant for females.
