A PRETEND BOUTIQUE
With two girls, ages 3 and 6, fashion is a passion in the home of Donna Levos of Michigan. So Donna decided to showcase her girls' dress-up collection instead of tossing it in a box ("It's just not fabulous that way!").
By painting pink clouds on the walls and hanging hooks and shelves, she created a kid-size boutique in a corner of the family playroom. Dresses -- many of them hand-me-down dance-recital costumes from older cousins -- hang within reach, there's a big mirror for primping, and shoes, purses, and jewelry each have their places. With the fluffy, feathery, sparkly items all on tempting display, says Donna, "all the girls who visit just want to put them on."
A STARSTRUCK STAGE AND STUDIO
It's always showtime
at the Wienses' home since mom Patty approved her 13-year-old daughter's request to build a stage in the basement. "Micaiah had an interest in drama," Patty explains.
Soon the other five children, ages 4 to 17, decided to get in the act. They put up a curtain and strung Christmas lights around the stage, added instruments and spotlights, and eventually created a recording studio. These days one of her older sons specializes in videotaping the productions while another runs the lights. At this point, says Patty, "They would put on a show for the meter reader if they could talk him into it."
AN IMAGINARY ELEMENTARY
Ever since she started kindergarten, 7-year-old Reagan Dobratz has adored playing school. Reagan's love of pretend-teaching inspired her mom, Susan, to set up a classroom in the play area of their Plymouth, Massachusetts, home. "We found a calendar in the teacher supplies section of Staples and great teacher items at the dollar store." Susan also discovered a wealth of free online resources for her daughter to use to "teach" brother Cameron, age 6, and friends. "Sometimes I let my brother be a principal," says Reagan. But whether he's principal or not, jokes Reagan, "I'm still the boss of him!"
