Dressing Up & Costumes

Kids dress up costumes turn an ordinary afternoon into a ranch, an army camp or a royal court, with outfits for children aged 3 and up. We keep only a handful of dress up toys, each chosen because it sparks a clear story your child can step into straight away.

Four characters to step into

The cowboy fancy dress costume and the army soldier outfit suit lively games: chasing across the garden, hiding behind the sofa, building a den under the kitchen table. The royal princess costume tends to lead to slower stories of banquets, balls and grand entrances. All three are sized for ages 4+.

For a younger child, the Little Chef set pairs a chef outfit with wooden cooking pieces and starts from age 3. Wearing the outfit while stirring a pretend soup makes the game feel real, and it often ends with a menu for the whole family.

How to pick the right costume

Start from the games your child already plays. A child who lines up teddies to feed them will get more from the chef set; one who gallops around on a broom handle will want the cowboy. Let them try the outfit on the day it arrives and see whether they can manage it alone: a costume they can put on without help gets worn far more often.

Keeping dressing up within reach

A low hook or a small basket with one or two costumes works better than an overflowing dressing-up box. Your child sees what is there and chooses freely, the same idea behind open shelves for Montessori toys. Add props from around the house: a cardboard box becomes a stagecoach, a wooden spoon a royal sceptre.