Not Your Mama's Dress-Up

I will admit that parenting is a daily learning process for me.  For instance, let me let you in on my ignorance.  When I had boys, I had no visions of what "playing dress-up" would be like.  I thought that they would pretend that they were superheroes and maybe they would be interested in cars and big trucks...but "playing dress-up" never crossed my mind.  Maybe it's because, in my ignorance, I associated "playing dress-up" with how I played dress up, in heels and fairy wings and princess dresses.  And, since the boys haven't expressed interest in princess stuff, I figured that we would skip the "playing dress-up" phase.

Little did I know that "playing dress-up" has less to do with actual "stuff or clothes" and more to do with imagination.  It allows little ones to unlock their imagination and it lets outsiders into what's going on in their minds.  It helps them develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.  It helps them learn to play cooperatively with others.  It helps them to be strong communicators so that they can explain to others exactly what it is they are thinking about.

Reese gets in on the dress up action! 

In our (short) almost 4 years with Emmanuel, he has gone through many "dress-up" stages.  Pirates, Firefighters, Police Officers, Chef, Preacher, Superhero...you name it, he has created an image of it in his head.  In the last several months, he has taken his thoughts to a new level.  He has chosen a character (usually a rescue person) and then proceeded to find items around the house to use as accessories to complete his "outfit."  What I love about this is that he is uninhibited in his creativity.  We look up things on the internet, we check out books, we talk to real life people in those careers, we find out as much information as possible about what he is interested in, and he takes that information and develops an "outfit" or "costume" or...you know what I am trying to say.

So, for example, for a police officer.  He started off very simple.  He found a walkie-talkie around the house, he then added handcuffs to his outfit, he then needed a baseball cap (and my friend, who is a Nashville police officer, gave both boys badges from his old uniform that my mom sewed onto baseball caps), he added a belt and a stick...you get the drift (we don't do guns in our family, so he didn't go there).  Whenever he discovers something new about the police, we add it.

The "tough" pose

Thankfully, he has also been blessed by Aunties and Grandmas with "real" police costumes, but even still, he is not afraid to add to them or take away based upon his role that day.  "Mom, today I am a police detective, so I'll carry my magnifying glass."  OR, "Mom, today I am directing traffic, so I need my whistle."  His imagination is amazing.  His "playing dress-up" is shaping him and molding him into a young man who thinks for himself, is secure in his decisions, and who can use critical thinking skills. Right before our eyes, he is transforming and growing into an independent young man.

I am utterly amazed that all of this came from playing a little dress up.