I spent a recent Saturday with my three-year-old niece Molly. Before lunch, we had touched every flower in the yard and looked under every rock she could find. When Molly tugged at me and said, "Come aboard my boat," we turned ourselves into captains of the high seas and, as the tide grew, so did we--into whales and mermaids and, finally, cranky old fish who napped at the bottom of the sea.

Is this a common scenario in your house? From the time they're born, kids are natural explorers--with the imagination to create worlds and the energy to enjoy them. Some goldfish crackers and an affinity for THE LITTLE MERMAID inspired Molly's sea adventure. Who knows where we would have ended up had she been munching on animal crackers?

To inspire playful adventures, we've put together a group of costumes, and even a prop or two, that will transport kids around the globe and send them hopscotching through time. From a princess dress-up kit to a turban straight out of ancient Egypt, this worldly garb is inexpensive and easy to assemble.

—Mimi Sherman