Joyce is a Global Explorer. She taught art and architecture in India, Thailand and the Philippines; led student construction crews in Gambia; designed daycare centers around the Northwest US. When her sons were nine and fifteen years old Joyce took them on a two hundred mile trek in the Himalayas.

In 2000 Joyce began helping a young Guatemalan woman attend college. Juanita studied math and physics and now teaches in a highlands village. Before leaving home Joyce loads her bags with shoes, sweaters, computers, medical supplies and books for children. Friends are generous in contributing to her offerings. When she arrives, it doesn't take long for a trusted local to suggest kids who need a little help.

Global Dress Up is a natural extension of Joyce's deeply held passion for indigenous cultures, social justice, and children’s creativity.

Children's Play

by Joyce Plath

My fascination with children’s play with the arrival of my son Evan while I was in the middle of my first year of grad school in architecture at UC Berkeley. As I watched him explore the world I was gifted with fresh views of everything from the pattern of sunlight under a leafy tree to the texture of bricks in the patio. When I wrote my thesis on environments for small children I expanded upon my observations.

A few years later a second son, Tim, arrived. I got to watch the whole process all over again. Although some things like a little boys fascination with trucks was predictable, my sons delight in creative fantasy play with purses, jewelry, hats and scarves was not. Their favorite colors were pink and yellow with no particular preference for blue. As I observed their play I was delighted to see them make up costumes from various bits of stuff I have brought back from the years I had lived in Asia. They clearly used pretend play to be anyone they imagined themselves to be. These accessories were encouraging them to develop their imaginations, encouraging them to develop into the creative adults they are today. It is my hope that Global-dressup.com will bring some of the same free, multicultural play to today’s children. I would be pleased to hear stories about how your kids play with our offerings.