How to Create a Child's Dress Up Box

Kids love imaginative play, and one of the best ways to encourage creativity and self expression is through dress-up. Allowing kids to be their favorite action hero, cartoon character, or even an imaginary friend with the help of a few costume props helps to keep kids away from TV and video games, too. Here's how to create a child's dress up box that you can pull out on the next time kids say, "I'm bored!"

• Use a wardrobe-size moving box (available at storage rental facilities or U-Haul), or purchase a cardboard underbed-size box from the dollar store. You can also try using a plastic blanket storage chest (Rubbermaid and the like) available at department stores for about $10. The clear boxes are good because you can see the contents.
• Go through your family's closets and set aside old evening dresses, tuxedos, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, dyed-to-match shoes, and even bathrobes in silky fabrics and pretty colors. These are great for dress-up as kings and queens. Go to the dollar store and add plastic tiaras, gloves, high heeled plastic slippers, and feather boas. Add eye patches and plastic swords for pirate dress-up costumes.
• If your town has one, make a visit to the Army/Navy surplus store and forage for cool vintage uniforms for your box. (Check online or in the phone book under "surplus stores.") Little boys love these stores, and they're also a great source for knapsacks, GI-Joe style combat boots, helmets, and more.
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• Take the kids to the thrift store and set a dollar limit. Tell them to look for lab coats, chef coats, hats and artist smocks. They also may find old fur stoles, capes and evening bags. Seek out colorful scarves that can be twisted into turbans, and multi-colored knee socks and oversized shoes for clown outfits, too.
• Add a clear plastic bag filled with dimestore makeup such as rouge, lipstick and wax crayons for drawing on eyebrows and beauty marks.
• When your box is assembled, store it under your bed or in a closet. Go through your box periodically to spot clean and launder items.
• Of course, you won't add sharp objects such as knives or real weapons to the box. Be sure to supervise dress-up play for children under eight.