Does your child have an active imagination? Most toddlers and school children do. You see it when he turns his train set into racers or cooks dinosaur soup with plastic figurines. If it seems silly to turn Star Wars characters into family members and a minivan into a spaceship; that’s only because our adult imaginations aren’t what they used to be. Great Pretenders can help.
They toys themselves might also be a little limited. Out-the-box theme toys subtly encourage your child to simply re-enact a movie scene instead of creating worlds of his own. That’s really a shame, because imaginative play has proven social benefits that help increase attention spans and improve communication — important skills for entering school.
Playing Dress Up
If the words “dress up” sounds like girl stuff, you’re probably envisioning a costume box full of Disney Princess gowns. Dress-up is great fun for boys, too. It allows them use their imaginations to become a whole new character, and they can create new worlds to explore and adventures to embark on. This open-ended play is an important step in child development, so it’s disappointing that it’s hard to find great play outfits to inspire little boys.
Luckily, the creative minds at Great Pretenders know that dress up is fun for all kids. They have sturdy, adjustable costumes designed to inspire kids to tell their own stories. Best of all, they didn’t forget the boys.
Serious Costumes for Serious Imaginations
From pirate costumes with skull-and-crossbone eyepatches to medieval swords and shining armor, you’re sure to find great costumes and accessories that your child will love. These outfits are great for playtime, but are also ideal for trick-or-treating on Halloween or a theme party with friends.
Just don’t be surprised if he wants to wear it bed, to school and everywhere for a while!
For an extra dose of creativity, you can’t go wrong with the Colour Me Collection. These capes and accessories are made with white fabric printed with black line drawings that kids can color in anyway they like. These give imagination a double boost: first through artwork, and then through all the fun of wearing a one-of-a-kind cape to play at being a pirate by day or a knight by night.
No matter which item your son loves best, he’s sure to have an amazing adventure! In the gallery of photos below you’ll find some shots from the company’s website for your little princess and your darling little fairy.
A Word From Great Pretenders
Here’s a statement from the company about their philosophy and their history:
“At Great Pretenders we know that young children learn by imagining and doing. The process of pretending builds so many essential life skills. Children get to experiment with the social and emotional roles of life. They learn to verbalize their imaginative stories, to take turns with one another, to empathize with the feelings of others, and to solve problems – and in doing so, they develop their self confidence.
We’ve been designing and creating pretend play products that ignite and inspire imagination for over 25 years. Great Pretenders outfits are unique in that they are comfortable, size flexible and machine washable so they last long after the memories they make.” – Pat Willmot, President, Great Pretenders
All photos have been provided by Great Pretenders. © 2013 to 2015 by http://greatpretenders.ca/ and Creative Education of Canada, Inc.
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