The Art of Imagination
The countdown to Halloween is over now; and the costume is hanging up for another day when our grandson wants to play Star Wars in his Clone Trooper outfit. The main focus of Halloween (aside from the children’s dreams of getting the mother lode of candy), is pretending to be someone they can’t be on any other given day. But, does it have to be that way?
Growing up as a child, I remember how much fun it was to dress up in my Mom’s clothes and shoes. She had a pair of white patent leather high heel shoes that I loved to wear with her dresses. She also had a few wigs that she stopped wearing and some jewelry that added to my attire.
My kindergarten teacher, who was highly imaginative, staged an entire presentation around Holland. We made costumes (with the help of our parents) out of crepe paper and wore wooden shoes. We sang and danced, what may have been a kindergarten version of the Clog Dance. It was one of my fondest memories in my early years in school.
Imaginative play is so important in children’s development, and can be used to teach a number of skill sets. Costumes can be used to act out literature such as classic poetry, novels and plays, as done in the movies. When performing in front of family members, children can begin learning the art of speaking in public, which is regarded as one of the biggest fears of many adults.
Dressing up can also be used to reenact a period in history, which is demonstrated at Gettysburg and at Shakespeare and Renaissance Festivals. And of course, what would Disneyland be like without Mickey Mouse and Snow White. This is where dreams come true.
Although we tend to only scramble around for costumes at Halloween, children should frequently be given the opportunity to dress up and experience imaginative play.
So, what do you have in your closet? Please share your thoughts and stories.
Warm regards,
Kay L. Fontana
