Since your children were born, you have been dressing them in darling outfits, onesies and cute socks that always fall off. As soon as they learn to walk, they begin throwing clothes on the floor from drawers, making tents with scarves and blankets and trying new things. When you enroll them in preschool, though, you may suddenly panic about needing to show them how to bring some order to the tumble of textiles and teach them how to at least pull on shorts and find a shirt that matches or don a cute dress that imparts happiness.
It is cute to see how proud a toddler is when he gets his own clothes on perfectly—almost! You tell him what a great job he did, while holding back giggles because the shirt is on backwards, and the shoes have been Velcro-fastened onto the wrong feet!
There is no real exact age that little ones must be able to dress themselves, though. It comes from a mix of interests and their skill level. Children, as we know, start by taking their clothes off rather than putting them on. My daughter would strip and run naked outdoors, thinking it was hilarious. Thank goodness we had a fenced yard! I have a photo of her sitting in all her glory on her favorite beach towel in the summertime eating a Popsicle. To take advantage of the situation, I’d lay clothes on our porch step, and she would eventually put them on—our first success in teaching her to dress herself.
Some self-dressing milestones include removing clothes beginning at around one year. At 2, children may unbutton their clothes and take off their pants and put them back on. By 3, they probably will be able to dress themselves. And by the time kids are 4 or 5, look out for them to begin modeling for you in all manner of styles!
Getting dressed certainly has developmental benefits. Choosing clothes and putting them on lets kids practice planning and sequencing. Also, the act of putting on pants, jackets and socks helps with their fine motor skills. And selecting that favorite shirt to wear allows little ones to begin expressing themselves, helping them feel capable and independent. Read on for some tips to help your youngster toward a little more wardrobe independence.
- Teaching your child how to zip, button and tuck in begins early, as early as when you are the one putting on and taking off your newborn’s onesies. Talk to your infant about what you are doing, such as putting an arm into a sleeve. As she grows, help her practice the skills by putting her pant legs over her ankles and having her pull the pants up, or putting a shirt over her head and having her push her arms into the sleeves.
- Toys with fasteners such as buckles, buttons, snaps or ties are another way for your little one to practice skills needed for self-dressing.
- When my children were very young and hadn’t yet learned to tie, I found shoes that simply slipped on. Later, when they saw their friends with laces in their shoes, they were motivated to learn to tie for themselves!
- Offering limited choices ensures toddlers are dressing stylishly, building their decision-making skills and boosting their autonomy. They will slowly begin to notice how colors and patterns complement each other. You can do this by offering two dresses, two pairs of pants and two sweaters for your tot choose from. Hang all these options on low hooks so your child can choose one in the morning.
- Have fun with this process! Offer fun accessories, such as headbands, hair bows, hats, mittens and even princess crowns.
- Remember to position a mirror at your child’s eye level. This way, he can use it to make sure his clothes are on right and self-correct if he sees an error, such as a shirt on backwards. Fixing his own mistakes can ease frustration.
Remember, your child is becoming more independent with each day. When she takes her hat off over and over or insists on spending way too long trying to get her shoes on, it’s actually a good sign. Try to follow your child’s lead and allow her to explore the process of getting dressed as much as possible.
I discovered that when my son began t-ball, it was simple to lay out the baseball pants, shirt and belt. He relished that wearing these meant he was part of a team, and all the boys wore the same things. By the same token, my daughter began dance class at a very early age. Putting on tights, dance outfits and hair ribbons helped her learn to dress herself. (The false eyelashes were another story!)
The best way for children to master dressing is to allow them to learn by example. When you lay your own clothes out, ask them what they like best. When Daddy wears a team jersey, so will his son. Or when Mom wears a pretty dress, so will her daughter. Personal style from youth carries into adulthood.
Sources: VeryWellFamily.com, TheInspiredTreeHouse.com.