I don’t know what we’d do without our play silks. They have been the consistently most-used “toy” in our house over the past several years. While they don’t often play the leading role in pretend play scenarios, they are well-loved as supporting props and accessories.
Since we are such big fans of play silks in this house, we always have a basket of them handy for all kinds of pretend play—everything from making a fort and dressing up as a ghost (or princess or pirate or mother…) to creating a bed for a stuffed animal friend.
As Sarah, from Sarah’s Silks, says, “there is no end to what a play silk can be.”
You can buy silk scarves or make your own. I’ll share ideas for both…
Where to Buy Play Silks
Sarah’s Silks, one of my past blog sponsors, is a small shop and website devoted to selling play silks and other silk products for imaginative play and a magical childhood. Some of my favorites in her shop, besides the playsilks themselves (I really love the starry night playsilk!) are the fairy skirts and the rainbow baby blanket.
Oakmoss & Ivy is a new mom-owned Etsy shop that sells handmade playsilks and fairy/butterfly wings made from upcycled silk saris. (They recently sent me a pair of their wings to try out and they are beautiful and really well made.)
Check out your local independent toy store; they may sell play silks.
You can also simply upcycle silky scarves as play silks as we do (they sell for 50 cents each at my local Goodwill)
8 Comments
Anna
March 30, 2016 at 2:48 pmSuch beautiful but simple ideas – thank you for sharing.
Jean Van't Hul
March 31, 2016 at 5:55 amYou’re so welcome, Anna!
CA Gma
March 30, 2016 at 8:58 pmMy grandchildren play endlessly with some discarded, but clean, short sheer curtains.
Jean Van't Hul
March 31, 2016 at 5:56 amPerfect!
Kat
April 13, 2016 at 10:43 pmWhat is the bones of that fort made of?
Jean Van't Hul
April 14, 2016 at 8:55 amHi Kat. I think you’re referring to the fort made out of straw builders? Here’s a link to a post about them and some of the things my kids have build with them :: https://artfulparent.com/2013/01/my-kids-favorite-building-set-using-straws.html
tara
April 19, 2016 at 4:39 amsimple and beautiful idea. Thank you for sharing this interesting idea.
Tara, Bizbilla
Linda Grand
May 28, 2020 at 11:02 amThank you again and again for all of your ideas.