Costume parties in the children's bedroom – great fun in every season

Carnival, Shrovetide or Halloween are, of course, suitable occasions to dress up – a children's birthday party is another But why only then? Even rainy autumn and grey winter days are perfect for digging out the dress-up box and rummaging through it again. When it's too wet or miserable to play outside, children can quickly feel as if 'the walls are closing in' and boredom sets in. So wrapped up in being 'bored', they hardly get excited about anything. A dress-up box then becomes a gateway to the realm of imagination. And when you open it, new play situations arise of their own accord: A soft rustle, a short, suppressed giggle — you turn around and suddenly a terrifying, sinister-looking robber is standing before you, intent on a very special prize: the biscuit tin in the kitchen. Who wouldn't hand over the biscuits straightaway at that comical sight?

Growing into different roles

Boys often like to be cowboys, action heroes or strong, authoritative figures such as a knight or a pirate captain. Girls, on the other hand, frequently adore sweet princesses, magical fairies or cheeky witches. But professions like doctor, police officer or construction worker are also part of many children's dress-up repertoire. And there's a reason for that: through children's costumes & role-play accessories, children create a kind of counter-world. They put themselves in the role of adults and thus develop an understanding of grown-ups' behaviour. And as a police officer, witch, pirate or superhero, children who sometimes feel small in their everyday lives can feel very powerful through play.

Often the little ones particularly enjoy transforming themselves into a 'bad' character, such as a vampire. With age-appropriate costumes like the Vampir Draculino dress-up set, such figures are not threatening to little dress-up artists but have a spooky-beautiful charm. And when a child turns into a little dangerous blood-sucker, they're no longer afraid of nastily imagined monsters that lurk under the bed. So children try things out through dressing up and gradually develop their self-esteem and empathy. This is essential for their development.

One costume – a thousand ideas

A well-stocked dress-up box that leaves no wish unfulfilled—from the flower fairy to the fearless pirate—is every child's dream. Unfortunately, constantly buying new costumes becomes very expensive in the long run. You don't have to buy everything new for every role-play. Many costumes can be adapted for different disguises and roles with a few small changes. What was yesterday the jacket of the feared pirate Käpt’n Kalle might be the skirt of a noble musketeer tomorrow. Prinzessin Rosalina's breathtakingly beautiful dress could be the gown of a flower fairy or a sorceress the next day. All it takes is a little imagination and whatever mum and dad can spare from their wardrobe.

From old to new – create clever costume accessories in no time

Our tip for you: Don't simply throw out old, worn clothes into the charity bag or the bin. An aunt's hat combined with a feather — the perfect headgear for a fearsome robber. A large strip of an old curtain makes the veil and train of a fairy‑tale princess. A scrap of fabric, an old shirt, gloves … almost anything sifted out from mum and dad's wardrobe is suitable for new dress-ups. And who would have thought that a striped pyjama, a little make‑up and Käpt’n Kalle's leg shackle could turn a little ray of sunshine with a mischievous grin and freckles into a dangerous convict in no time?

So you see: It's often the small creative ideas that bring even more variety to dress-up role-play. All children need, besides a few clever costumes and props, is a big helping of imagination… and they are, as we all know, very well supplied with it!