Screen-Free Winter Play Ideas Using Dress-Up Clothes

When the days are short and the weather keeps us indoors, it can feel like a challenge to keep little ones entertained without relying on screens. Winter, however, is the perfect time to rediscover the magic of dress-up and imaginative play.

With just a few well-loved costumes and a bit of imagination, children can stay happily engaged for hours — no batteries or charging cables required.

Why Dress-Up Play Is Perfect for Winter

Dress-up play naturally encourages children to:

• Use their imagination

• Create their own stories and characters

• Build confidence through role play

• Play independently or with siblings

Indoors, costumes become more than outfits — they turn the living room into castles, forests, shops, or faraway lands.

Easy Winter Dress-Up Play Ideas

Create a Story Corner

Choose a costume and help your child invent a simple story:

• A brave knight protecting a castle

• A fairy helping woodland creatures

• A little explorer discovering hidden treasures

Perfect costumes for this: Knight costumes, fairy dresses, and storybook character outfits all work beautifully for imaginative storytelling.

Animal Adventures

Animal costumes are ideal for younger children and toddlers.
Encourage them to:

• Move like their animal

• Make animal sounds

• Act out a day in that animal’s life

Try: Bear, lion, or woodland animal costumes — great for active play and easy role play.

Everyday Dress-Up Time

Dress-up doesn’t need to be saved for parties or special occasions.
Try:

• A daily “dress-up hour”

• Letting children choose a costume after breakfast

• Keeping outfits within easy reach

Everyday favourites: Soft animal costumes, simple capes, and comfortable role-play outfits that children can put on themselves.

Mini Performances

Invite your child to put on a short show:

• A story they’ve made up

• A scene from a favourite book

• A character introduction

Great for performances: Princess dresses, royal costumes, and hero outfits that help children step confidently into character.

Mix, Match & Imagine

Encourage children to mix costumes in unexpected ways:

• A fairy wearing a knight’s cape

• An animal with a crown

• A wizard who’s also a pirate

Mix-and-match essentials: Capes, crowns, and dress-up accessories are perfect for layering and creative combinations.

Setting Up a Simple Dress-Up Space

You don’t need a large playroom. A small corner works perfectly:

• A basket or low rail for costumes

• A mirror at child height

• A box for hats and accessories

Storage tip: Keep frequently worn costumes at the front so children can easily choose their favourites.

Keeping Winter Dress-Up Play Calm (Not Chaotic)

To make dress-up play enjoyable for everyone:

• Rotate a small selection of costumes

• Choose outfits that are comfortable and easy to move in

• Let children lead the play

Comfort matters: Look for soft, easy-to-wear costumes that children can enjoy for longer stretches of play.

A Winter Full of Imagination

Winter doesn’t have to mean restless days indoors. With the right costumes, children can explore new characters, invent stories, and play freely — all from the comfort of home.

At Little Green Willow, our children’s dress-up costumes are chosen to encourage imaginative, screen-free play all year round.

✨ Browse our children’s dress-up costumes to inspire winter play at home.