My 2-year-old daughter runs into my office wearing sequins-decorated fuchsia fabric wrapped sarong style around her waist. Clicking after her in her pink and purple Dora heels and carrying a pink princess gown in her hands is my 5-year-old daughter. They’re playing dress up, and the costume box fun has just begun.

Princess gowns, feather boas, fancy shoes, bracelets, rings, and tiaras are just some of the items little girls enjoy wearing while playing dress up. They enjoy pretending to be princesses, movie stars, mothers, doctors, and anything their little minds can imagine. They need a box or suitcase filled with costumes and accessories to make their dreams come true.

A great time to purchase costumes to fill a costume box is after Halloween. Stores cut their costume prices, in many cases, by over 50%. During this time of the year, it’s easy to buy nice wigs that normally cost $20 for $5 or less. Stock up on everything from clown costumes to fairy wings. Your daughter’s favorite character costumes can be purchased at the post-Halloween sales, too.

Thrift stores are another place where costumes can be found at a discounted price. You can find new and used costumes to add to your daughter’s costume box. Thrift stores are great places to pick up costume jewelry for your child’s costume box, also. Pearls, rhinestone rings, and necklaces make great accessories for little girls’ dress up time. Girls will have a great time going through the racks and finding items in the store to use when playing dress up.

Before you toss your old clothes, jewelry, and accessories offer them to your daughter for her costume box. She’ll love having a pair of her mother’s old high heel shoes or her fancy scarf to play with when she’s dressing up. Don’t forget to toss in some business clothes and accessories for the days your daughter wants to pretend to go to work.

When gathering items for your daughter’s costume box, include some of the following items: princess gowns, heels, wands, tiaras, wings, wigs, jewelry, capes, purses, hats, gloves, career costumes (doctor, nurse, firefighter, chef, detective, etc.), tutus, grass skirts, leis, fabric, and ballet slippers. Periodically, add new costumes and accessories to your daughter’s costume box.

What should you use for the costume box? Big storage containers make great costume boxes. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, so if necessary, you can color coordinate the box with your daughter’s room. Trunks and large suitcases work as containers for costumes, too. Whatever you decide, make sure the costume box will be easy and safe for your daughter to open and close on her own.

A costume box provides hours of imaginative play for little girls. As you watch your daughter’s stories unfold while playing dress up, you’ll be thrilled and amused.