Dress like a kid day
Take inspiration from a nostalgic fashion trend, dress as a favourite childhood character, recreate an outfit from an old photo, become the person your younger self dreamed of being or turn it into a playful non-uniform day at school.
A Dress Like a Kid Day is an easy way to bring people together, start conversations and raise money during Be a Kid Week.
How the challenge works
Choose a day when pupils, students, colleagues or group members can replace their usual uniform or work clothes with something inspired by childhood.
Keep the theme broad and flexible so that everyone can take part without needing to buy a costume or new outfit.
Choose your theme
People could:
- Wear an old school uniform or school-inspired outfit
- Take inspiration from the decade they grew up in
- Dress as a favourite childhood character
- Become the person they wanted to be when they grew up
- Recreate a favourite childhood outfit or old photograph
- Take part in a simple non-uniform or mufti day
Taking part should always be optional. People who do not want to dress up can still donate, share a childhood photograph or support the campaign in another way.
Plan your challenge
- Choose your theme
- Pick a date
- Get permission
- Plan your fundraising
- Invite people to take part
- Dress up, fundraise and share
How to raise money
Choose one simple fundraising idea or combine a few approaches to suit your group, activity and available time.
There is no required fundraising target. Choose an amount that feels realistic for the size of your group and focus on making it easy and enjoyable for people to get involved.
You could:
- Ask everyone taking part for a suggested donation
- Charge a small entry fee
- Ask people to sponsor participants
- Invite donations for additional attempts
- Charge teams to enter a tournament
- Ask people to donate to vote for the winner
- Combine the challenge with refreshments, a raffle or bake sale
- Set up an online fundraising page
Helpful things to think about
Adapt it for your group
Schools and colleges
Run the activity as a non-uniform day, themed dress-up day or student-led challenge.
Younger pupils could wear a favourite playful outfit or dress as something they would like to be when they grow up.
Older students may prefer a nostalgia theme, childhood photograph recreation or a “what I wanted to be when I grew up” challenge.
Taking part should remain optional. Pupils and students should still be able to donate or support the day without dressing up.
Businesses
Invite colleagues to take part in the office, remotely or across different locations.
You could hold a competition for the most creative outfit, recreate childhood photographs or ask colleagues to match childhood pictures to the correct person.
Remote workers could share photographs or join a team call in their chosen outfit.
People who do not want to dress up can still donate, vote in a competition or share a childhood memory.
Community groups
Turn a regular meeting or get-together into a Dress Like a Kid Day and invite members to take part in a way that suits your group.
You could choose a shared theme, recreate childhood photographs, dress as favourite childhood characters or run a simple competition for the most creative outfit.
Anyone who does not want to dress up can still donate, vote, share a childhood memory or help organise the activity.
Taking part should remain optional. Pupils and students should still be able to donate or support the day without dressing up.
What you will need
You will need:
- A date for your activity
- Permission from your school, college or workplace
- A clear theme or explanation of the day
- A simple way to tell people how to take part
- An online fundraising page or agreed method for collecting donations
- Optional childhood photographs
- Optional prizes for competitions
Nobody should need to purchase a new outfit to take part. Encourage people to use clothes, accessories and other items they already have.
Make it safe and inclusive
Make sure that the theme allows people to participate in a way that feels comfortable for them.
Avoid costumes, clothing or themes that could cause offence, reinforce stereotypes or make other people feel uncomfortable.
People should always be able to participate without dressing up. They could instead donate, share a childhood photograph or support another part of the activity.
Schools and colleges should follow their usual policies on:
- Clothing
- Safeguarding
- Photography
- Appropriate themes
- Participation and inclusion
Workplaces should also consider their usual dress requirements, particularly where clothing could affect health, safety or the ability to complete particular roles.
Looking for another idea?
Explore more playful fundraising ideas in the Be a Kid Week Play Hub.
Why your fundraising matters
Be a Kid Week is part of the Acorns Time Machine appeal .
The money you raise will help power the specialist care Acorns provides to children with short lives and their families. By managing pain, symptoms and medication and providing expert care whenever it is needed, Acorns helps families make more of the time they have together.
Your activity will help give seriously-ill children more time to simply be kids.
Ready to help childhood take over?
Sign up to Be a Kid Week and download your free fundraising pack, full of ideas and practical guidance to help you get started.
