The Dilemma As a mom of a five-year-old girl, I have attended countless birthday parties in the past few years. With each event, comes the inevitable trip to the toy store to find an appropriate gift for the child of honor. I began to dread the gift-buying process. Toys had either too many pieces, were too sophisticated, were too popular and bound to be duplicates, were too expensive, or just not cool enough (according to my resident expert). The toys my daughter received last year were played with once or twice and piled up in the closet along with the
rest of the colorful plastic presents of the past.

The Answer: Dress-up Costumes! With no small piece to be choking hazards, no instructions to read, no set up necessary, no batteries required and plenty of variety from which to choose, I had come up with a unique and perfect Birthday Present.

Every little girl dreams of being a princess and every little girl love to dress up in beautiful silky dresses, wear crowns, wave magic wands and dance around the house. But, dress-up costumes are not limited to princesses alone. With so many costumes to choose from, there is something special and unique for each child.

How To Pick The Right Costume I have given many costumes as gifts and have found that you can't go wrong giving a little girl a Barbie costume. However, here are some tips to make the perfect selection:

* Find out what TV shows the child likes to watch. Often, costumes of the main characters are available.

* Does the child have a favorite movie? There are numerous
licensed movie costumes available.

* Be sure to buy an 'Official Licensed Costume' if available. This will help ensure that the child will be able to recognize the costume, as it will be made
according to licensing specifications.

* Check the size and buy the right one. Nothing is more disappointing than receiving a
costume and it not fitting. Make sure you buy the right size. If you are not sure, buy the larger size.

Author: Carol Shuman
About the author:
Wife and mother of two. Working to promote the family business:
http://www.anytimecostumes.com