Whenever you get a bunch of little girls together, they sooner or later run out of ideas and little squabbles ensure. The wise parent knows this and plans some activities that will not only keep the little guests happy and the little hostess gracious, but that will also encourage the girls to use their imagination and create something new.  Many games will serve these purposes, but dress up games, for girls, are usually the number one choice. There are a variety of dress-up games they like to play, but it appears that there are three finalists that always grace the tops of the wish lists.

First and foremost, of course is the game where the little ones can dig in the big trunk and come up with a bunch of costumes and dress themselves up.  If you like parent participation, dressing up girls is fun and can cause a whole afternoon to fly by in the wink of an eye.  Costumes for the occasion are easy to find: perhaps you have some clothes you no longer wear, some blouses that have become stained beyond the salvaging capable hands of your dry cleaner, perhaps something has become to loose or too tight, or maybe your little angel enjoys a variety of extracurricular activities such as dancing, ballet or soccer that have left you with bags full of discarded uniforms, costumes, or other items. A lot more costly is the idea of purchasing ready made costumes tailored especially for an afternoon of dress up games for girls.  While this expenditure will be worth it in the long run, it is by no means required, and it will actually prevent the little ones from using their imagination to mix and match the odds and ends you can put together.  When dressing up, girls also love to pretend with make up!  While many a parent may frown on the idea of lipstick and eye shadow for the little girls, pretend makeup that goes on clear but looks like the real thing in the package may fit the bill.  Most parents also won't mind some light pink nail polish to complete the ensembles. 

Of course, there are also other dress-up games for girls that do not require a box full of discarded clothes.  Do you remember paper dolls?  They were made of sturdy paper or laminated cardboard and had dresses made of similar material to mix and match.  These days, paper dolls have become more sophisticated and come in the likenesses of the Disney princesses of your choice. Dresses are now made of peel-off stickers that can be reused time and again. For the Internet savvy, there are copious websites devoted to online dress up games for girls that include famous pop stars (for the older girls) or princesses, angels and even teddy bears for the younger ones. As always when children access the Internet, parent participation is not just recommended but absolutely required!

Last but by no means least on the list of favorite dress up games for girls are the omnipresent Barbie dolls and her many cousins and sisters. Now coming in all shapes and sizes and with costumes that can be as simple and as complex as the imagination and the pocket book of the purchaser allow for, these dolls allow for hours of fun and role play that has fascinated little girls for decades.  Give it a try and be amazed how much your little girl and her friends will enjoy the games!