Character Dress-Up Day

Overview

Character Dress-Up Day is a magical experience that brings the Clumsy & Friends stories to life! Using simple household materials, your family can transform into beloved characters for a day of imaginative play, storytelling, and memory-making.

Benefits of Character Dress-Up

• Imaginative play: Encourages creative thinking and role-playing
• Character understanding: Deepens connection with story characters and their traits
• Creative problem-solving: Challenges children to use everyday items in new ways
• Fine motor skills: Develops dexterity through crafting and assembling costumes
• Self-expression: Allows children to explore different personas and emotions
• Family bonding: Creates shared experiences and lasting memories

Planning Your Character Dress-Up Day

Step 1: Choose Your Date

Select a day when everyone can participate. Weekends or school holidays work well. Consider these special occasions:

• World Book Day (first Thursday in March)
• International Children's Book Day (April 2)
• A child's birthday
• After finishing a new Clumsy & Friends story
• Any day that needs a little extra magic!

Step 2: Character Selection

Have each family member choose their favorite Clumsy & Friends character. You can:

• Vote on characters as a family
• Draw character names from a hat
• Choose characters that complement each other for a group story
• Create a new character in the Clumsy & Friends universe

Step 3: Gather Materials

Look around your home for everyday items that can transform into costume elements. The "Materials Treasure Hunt" section below will help you identify useful items.

Step 4: Create Costumes

Set aside time before your dress-up day to prepare the costumes together. Use the character guides in this resource to help you capture each character's essential features.

Step 5: Plan Activities

Decide what you'll do while in character. The "Beyond Dressing Up" section offers many ideas to make your day memorable.

Materials Treasure Hunt

You don't need to buy special materials for a great character dress-up experience. Look around your home for these everyday items:

Character Costume Guides

Use these simple guides to create recognizable costumes for each Clumsy & Friends character:

Beyond Dressing Up: Making the Day Special

Once you're dressed as your favorite characters, try these activities to make your Character Dress-Up Day memorable:

Tips for a Successful Character Day

For Parents

• Keep it simple: Focus on 2-3 key elements that make each character recognizable
• Comfort first: Ensure costumes are comfortable enough to wear for extended periods
• Child-led creation: Let children take the lead in designing their costumes
• Document the day: Take photos and videos to preserve the memories
• Join in: Parents should dress up too! Your participation makes it more special
• Stay flexible: Be open to how the day unfolds and follow your child's interests

For Children

• Think about your character: How do they talk? Move? What makes them special?
• Use your imagination: Simple items can become magical with pretend play
• Stay in character: Try to act like your character would throughout the day
• Be creative: There's no "wrong way" to be your character

Extending the Experience

• Virtual character meetup: Arrange a video call with friends or family members who also enjoy Clumsy & Friends
• Character journal: Write diary entries from your character's perspective
• Seasonal variations: Create special holiday versions of your characters
• Character kindness: Perform acts of kindness that your character would do
• Share with the author: Take photos to share with Chris Meredith via social media
• Character pen pals: Exchange in-character letters with friends who love the books