Does your kid hate costumes? Here’s how to handle Book Week and special events

Bethany Petrik/Getty Images Book Week, costume parties and other dress-up days can be great fun for children.

Parents and carers may picture their child wearing their favourite superhero or princess costume, enthusiastically joining in celebrations.

But some kids may not like the idea of dressing up.

Many adults and children may face this situation as daycares and primary schools encourage dress ups for Book Week, which starts this week.

How can you navigate this situation without adding too much pressure? Why might children dislike dressing up? It can help to be curious about why children don’t want to dress up, rather than immediately trying to persuade them to join in.

For some kids, the issue will be sensory .

Costumes can be itchy, hot, restrictive or simply feel different from their usual clothes.

Masks, hats, face paint, wigs and unusual shoes can be particularly uncomfortable.

Other children might dislike being the centre of attention.

Walking into school dressed differently can feel incredibly exposing, particularly if they are shy or anxious .

They may worry about standing out, being laughed at, or simply not feeling like themselves in front of others.

Sometimes it’s also simply preference.

Not all children enjoy pretend play in this way.

They may prefer to engage with books, stories and characters without physically becoming them.