Hooray for Imaginative Play

Playing dress-up and engaging in imaginative play is not only fun for your young child, but is also of developmental importance. Pretending to be someone they are not helps your child develop creativity and outside-the-box thinking, empathy for others, an increased self-esteem, and also helps with vocabulary development.
So, if you can, build a dress-up box for your child. You can find used dress-up items at resale shops, or get creative and make some of your own. Also, you likely have several items in your closet or garage that you rarely use that your child will find hours of fun with (see exhibit A above-- old ski goggles). It is great if you can place a large mirror somewhere near the dress-up box so that the children can see how they look.