These are just a few ideas to get you started – but when the parties get started, kids’ imaginations will take over.

Children love to dress up. Dressing up and playing pretend allows kids to imitate adults, and to explore what it would be like to be astronauts, teachers, or even lions and other animals. Dress up parties let kids make their own fun, and, best of all, they don’t require expensive or elaborate props. You could choose to have kids come already dressed up or provide costumes at the party.

Young children love to play house, school, office and store, and these perennial favorites don’t need much in the way of set up. A child-sized table can serve as a school desk, while tea sets, with pretend food, and dolls or animals to eat the meals, are a perfect way for kids to play house. A few clothes from your closet and some old jewelry, goggles or hats help kids really get into their roles.

Older children will love pretending to be pirates, knights, wild animals or historical characters. If you yourself don’t happen to have eye patches or crowns on hand, thrift stores and garage sales are great places to find clothes and accessories. Costume shops – which often have great sale prices after Halloween – are also good resources for hard to find costume ideas.

Kids will enjoy acting out character-driven scenarios. For example, a party of pirates might have a treasure hunt for party favors, using clues hidden around the room. Or a group of medieval knights and princesses might go on a quest to find a dragon.
Are you concerned about girly clothes on your son or does it worry you seeing your daughter in construction garb? According to the askdrsears.com website, gender-bending is perfectly normal and parents should not panic. They say to, “laugh and enjoy it. This stage of curiosity and make-believe soon passes once the school-age child learns gender- appropriate dress.” Let the experimentation be a source of fun, not frustration.