Simple Tasks - Children's Toys Week - Dress Up Clothes and Accessories

My children love to play dress up. They dress up every morning before we start school. They dress up to match whatever movie they are watching. They dress up at night when they want to dance to whatever music I am playing in the living room.

Playing dress up so much means that the clothes and accessories get a lot of wear and tear. Because these types of "toys" are made so cheaply, they don't always last a full year. And even if they basic structure lasts, I may need to remove embellishments, hem fraying pants or skirts, or toss some broken accessories. Let's break down how to clean out the dress up stash:

*Check the fit. Eliminate costumes that are too short or tight. These are not comfortable for play anyway!
*Toss broken jewelry and accessories. They can become dangerous when little plastic pieces are flying.
*Look for stains and periodically launder whatever you can. But beware - some items are intended to be single use and may fall apart in the wash.
*Remove anything the kids avoid. If they aren't wearing it already, they probably won't, and unused pieces just wind up as clutter the prohibit kids from accessing what they need.

Costume sleepwear is washable and comfy

If you want to avoid constantly tossing out things from the dress up boxes, consider buying dress up sleepwear instead of costumes. These very closely resemble actual costumes but they are more durable, and they can be laundered! The Disney Store and Target often feature gowns for girls and pajamas for boys that closely resemble movie characters. Our Elsa nightgown and Darth Vader pajamas get a lot more wear than our actual costumes anyway because they are more comfortable. Don't get in a hurry to buy though - these items go on sale just like other clothes, so when you know what you look, just watch for a sale, especially when the stores are transitioning for the season change.

Finally, be careful with costume jewelry.  Kids' accessories are usually made in China, so they are very cheap. Personally, I have tossed anything that is plastic that is made to look like metal for one important reason: these are the items that usually have the highest lead content. A prime example is plastic beads from dollar stores, the same ones thrown out at Mardi Gras parades. These beads are produced in great quantities and need to be cheap, so lead is often one of the ingredients. Costumes sold at Halloween are also cause for concern because of the use of lead and plasticizers. These can cause reactions in children with allergies and asthma.

The best thing to keep for playing dress up is imagination. Let kids create their own costumes out of old clothes and jewelry that you feel is safe. Let them make necklaces and crowns during craft time. Not only will this encourage imagination, but it will also expand their playtime. So keep it simple and keep them happy!