Preparing for Preschool with Kindi Kids Dress Up

AD – Items gifted for review

Like many children across the UK, our family is slowly trying to get to grips with the prospect of a brand new normal, with the girls both heading back to school and nursery in the coming weeks. Neve is now nearly 4, and this September she will be starting a brand new school based nursery with lots of new friends to make and a brand new uniform to wear each day. Whilst most of the time she is a confident, chatty little girl, she also has a tendency to be quite emotional, so I’m fully expecting a few tears and worries when she has to wave me off at the school gates for the very first time.

With her dress sense being somewhat ‘relaxed’ over the last 6 months, wearing something other than pyjamas might come as a bit of a shock to the system!

We were recently sent some of the NEW Kindi Kids Dress Up range and I was hopeful that talking about outfits, playing dressing up and creative play would help Neve feel more confident in the weeks to come.

Who are the Kindi Kids?

Kindi Kids are a group of adorable preschoolers who live in a world of imagination and discovery which is all about playing together and making friends. Their motto is ‘Yay Let’s Play’ and they aim to encourage children to talk and communicate about their emotions and feelings as they adapt to starting Kindi (or preschool).

The Kindi Kids Dress Up Dolls

We were sent a Kindi Kids Masha Mallow doll from the Kindi Kids Dress up range, and what a gorgeous doll she is.

Extending their original collection, the Kindi Kids are back with more make believe fun for little ones to get involved with. Each of the Kindi Kids Dress up Dolls is taking part in dress up time at the girls nursery, and can pick what they wear.

Marsha Mallow comes with two different outfits.

First up is her adorable bunny outfit (complete with bunny ears headband, a super cute all in one with pom pom bow and cute bunny tail at the back. She has some adorable bunny boots to match and the colour palate perfectly complements her pastel coloured plait.

Her second outfit is a playtime dress with fluted sleeves and a little rainbow on the chest.

The outfits can be easily swapped and changed but unfastening the Velcro on the back, and then popping out her arms.

Even better, if your children are fans of Kindi Kids dolls and have a few, all the outfits are completely interchangeable with the ability for children to remove and swap outfits as they wish.

Kindi Kids dolls are about 25cm tall with HUGE glittery eyes and bright colourful hair. Their heads bobble as they move, and Neve absolutely loved deciding what each doll would wear before acting out little play scenes with the different dolls.

Learning through play

Neve absolutely loved playing dress up with her Kindi Kids Dress up dolls, and her and her sister played together for quite some time, swapping and changing the headbands and outfits whilst acting out scenes together.

Whilst on the surface this just looks like play, there are actually some really valuable lessons here:

• Observation – Children learn through what they see and observe. Neve often watches Mummy pick out her outfits in the morning and gets herself undressed at the end of the day. She is also quite vocal about the clothes that she likes and doesn’t like, always opting for a twirly dress or skirt given the choice. Acting out with her Kindi Kids Dress Up dolls the process of wearing one outfit for play and another for home or bed reinforces the prospect of having a uniform, and is a useful way to start conversations about getting dressed in the morning into the same outfit ready to head to nursery.
• Imitation – imitating what they have seen or done during the preschool day can help them understand and explore new experiences, feelings and emotions; and open up questions they may have about this next phase of their lives.
• Being Unique – As always, The Kindi Kids Dress Up Dolls are all really unique, with bright hair, glittery eyes and bold personalities. Learning more about the Kindi Kids and who they are again reinforces the message that ‘its ok to be you’ and not being afraid to show your individuality.

Come Tuesday morning it will be Neve getting dressed, in her cardigan, pinafore and shiny black shoes, and I hope that she can dress herself just as efficiently as she can dress her Kindi Kids dolls!

Kindi Kids Dress Up Dolls are available to purchase at Smyths Toys now.