Costume Play

Costume Play

Setting: classroom, daycare or playroom

Materials:

Old clothes or fun outfits

Bin

Costume Jewelry

Hats

Makeup

Instructions: Put all the materials in a bin and allow for the individual to play and use their imagination to create scenarios. Creation of a setting for them to perform could be beneficial such as telling them to imagine they are in a school setting.

Purpose: This activity allows for play, emotional expression and imagination. Emotional expression is exercised in the costumes or clothing combinations that they chose to wear. Play and imagination are essential in achieving roles and understanding different roles in life and problem solving to what the role may be which are helpful in the future when these roles and scenarios are not imagined. Perhaps giving verbal or written scenarios such as that they are at school can promote the installation of roles and what types of problems that would have to be solved would help lead the play in one direction. This activity also allows for better gross motor skill and range of motion of both upper and lower extremities is demonstrated through constant putting on and taking off clothes. Balance is also exercised through the need to both sit and stand in order to change clothes. Fine motor skills are also exercised through the use of putting on makeup and the buttoning and zipping of clothes. Fine motor control that is needed in writing and dressing ADLs.

Your Therapy Source Inc. (October 15, 2009). Costumes May Do the Trick.

Retrieved from:http://yourtherapysource.blogspot.com/2009/10/costumes-may-do-trick.html