It seems like every day that your little girl is begging you to play dress up with her. Whether she’s inviting you to join her tea party or she wants you to raid a train with her in the Wild West, you might be getting tired of putting on a new costume each day. Well, you may be surprised to learn that dress up is a crucial time in a child’s development and has a lot of benefits for them as they grow.

Wondering exactly why pretending is so important? Discover the benefits of dress up play today!

Develop Communication

When your child asks you to pretend with them, they’re practicing their communication skills. They’re describing the experience and interacting with you in ways that will help them articulate their thoughts and speak better in the future. As you indulge their dress up play, they get better at finding the right words and using the correct grammar.

Encourage Creativity

The next time you’re putting your little one in one of her favorite dress up dresses, remember that playing pretend is helping her develop her creativity. The cape for her superhero costume doesn’t have to be a cape — it can be a towel! Her woodland princess tiara doesn’t have to be diamond and pearls — a headband can do the trick. Let your child lead you with her creativity and watch as it grows and develops.

Becoming a Problem Solver

Every dress up playtime is an opportunity to develop essential problem solving skills. From figuring out how to catch the bad guy to making a convoluted plan to rob a bank, your child is practicing for smaller problems that may arise in their own life.

Social Skills

When dress up play includes other neighborhood kids, all the children have to figure out how to get along. While each one may have their own pretend storyline, they all work together to weave them into a single adventure. Your child is learning how to compromise, cooperate, and empathize with others! Her princess adventure may turn into a daring spy mission because of input from and collaboration with other children.

Build Self-Esteem

When your little girl puts on that dress up dress, she’s entering a world that is entirely hers. She controls every aspect of her experience which helps her build her sense of self and self-esteem through her personal power.

Support Playtime

As your little one turns to more elaborate adventures, they may not always need you to participate, but you can still support them with toys, outfits, and accessories that bring their vision to life. From toy cell phones and kitchenware to realistic princess dresses and flower crowns, you have the power to complete your little one’s adventures.

Support playtime and watch as your child grows and develops their creativity, communication, and sense of self!