Every so often, my kids and their friends like to pretend that they have broken limbs. They act out dramatic scenarios that revolve around a tragic injury and the convalescing that follows. I thought I’d give them a few props to help feed their imagination. Fake casts made from cotton tube socks did the trick. Unfortunately, they also really want braces – that will be a bit harder to pull off. When I was a child I wanted braces so badly that I unwrapped paperclips and bent them over my teeth – which was uncomfortable and not at all realistic. I guess it runs in the family.
Cut off the toe of a tube sock, cut out an opening for the thumb and hand out the Sharpies to collect signatures.
Have a fake broken ankle? No problem, just cut off the toe of a tube sock, slip it over your foot and practice limping.
A sliver of a tube sock is marked up with a red Sharpie to create the look of an impressive injury to the elbow.
vivi
June 16, 2011 at 9:50 am
Ha,ha,ha, lovely…
David
June 16, 2011 at 10:30 am
Love it.
Lori
June 16, 2011 at 11:57 am
I’m FREAKING out right now!!! A couple of months ago my husband and I decided on costumes for our kids for Halloween (I know… a bit in advance). One of which involves our infant to look injured. I’ve been trying to figure out just how to make her look injured and not like a mummy. This is SO perfect. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
p.s. I totally put paper clips on my teeth. As well as a thin wire bangle bracelet I broke and molded to my teeth.
Flor
June 16, 2011 at 12:52 pm
My kids are cutting up Dad’s tube socks right now! -Thanks
Lauren
June 16, 2011 at 1:10 pm
I did the paper clips on my teeth thing too!!
Heather
June 16, 2011 at 1:23 pm
hahaha I LOVE this! My sister and I were always “injuring” our Barbie dolls when we were younger, and we fashioned all sorts of casts, crutches and bandages from whatever we could find. My sister’s favorite doll actually wore a fake eye patch for months! ha brings back memories. Thanks for sharing =)
Jessica
June 17, 2011 at 10:12 am
How funny! I used to do the exact same thing when I was little – my best friend and I would layer sock upon sock to make it look like a cast. We always wanted braces and retainers too! Unfortunately the real thing isn’t so fun!
luisa willis
March 9, 2012 at 11:54 pm
HEY WE LOVED TO MAKE OUR OWN BRACES!!.. Back the there was a whole band of metal around the tooth to hold the little brace square so we just used foil to pretend they were braces (like a mouth piece).. ALSO we used to love pretend nails: made them with straws cut to the nail shape..
Kelly
April 6, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Love the idea for my Dramatic Play area! Thanks for sharing!!!