Getting your child to dress himself up has many benefits to not just your child but to you as well. It is one thing less that you will have to do, especially once your child starts attending classes and punctuality will be of consequence. It also gives your child a chance to be responsible while also having fun with what he is wearing. Having said this, it is easier said than done to get your child to dress himself. Here, we give you great tips that you can use to make the entire process easier for you and your child.
While as adults we do not think twice about dressing ourselves, it is a tricky and rewarding thing for your child to learn. Dressing yourself might seem like second nature to you now, but there are many benefits to teaching your child how to dress himself. Dressing helps develop many skills such as:
If you are wondering at what age should a child begin to dress himself, then you are asking the wrong type of question. Rather than focusing on when should a child dress himself, you should look at this process as something that will happen step by step over a period of time that will last a few years. As your child grows, you will see small advancements towards learning how to dress himself. Your role is to encourage these attempts and have patience while he learns the next new step.
Teaching your child how to dress himself requires a healthy dose of patience. While it might be frustrating for you to watch your child wear his shoes for five minutes, it is important that he learns how to do so. Here are a few tips that can help with the more difficult aspects of dressing.
Pick pants that are loose with an elastic band at the waist. Go for sweats rather than jeans until your child learns how to pull them off. You can then graduate to buttons than snap on or even a slide button. The last type of button to learn is the traditional type as it is the hardest.
This is particularly useful when wearing pants or other bottoms like shoes and socks. Your child can then focus on just wearing the pants and not have to worry about balancing himself while also figuring out how to wear the clothes.
Encourage your child to push his arms through the sleeves. This is one of the easiest steps to achieve and will boost your child’s confidence.
You might be wondering how to teach a child to button shirt. For older kids, you must encourage them to button their own shirts. While there might be a few mismatched buttons in the beginning, the payoff is worth it.
In the beginning, it is best to not confuse your child with too many choices. Pick out all his clothes and lay them out for him to wear. You can also lay them in the order that he has to wear clothes.
Teach your child how to recognize the tell-tale signs to distinguish between the front and back of clothes. Point out that the tag of a dress is always on the back, or that buttons are usually on the front.
Removing clothes is much easier than putting them on and your child will find this easier. Also, in most cases, your child will be wearing clothes based on a schedule. While removing clothes, schedules are usually more relaxed, like around bath time or sleep time.
One important aspect of teaching toddlers to dress is wearing shoes. Start with shoes that are easy to get into such as slip-on shoes that stretch. Show your child how you wear your shoes, with the toes going in first and then the heel. Encourage him to try on his own.
If the idea of getting your child’s head through a t-shirt hole scares you and him alike, you can start with easy wear shirts. Look for shirts that have stick on panels or velcro in place of buttons.
The first thing to do is to get a professional on board. This will not only help with aspects of dressing but other areas of development where your child will need specialized attention. Be sure to stay patient and use different techniques for teaching. You can give your child instructions by telling, by showing, or step by step. Think about if the skill you want your child to learn is something that he is physically capable of doing. There is a fine line between teaching your child about perseverance and him getting frustrated with what you perceive as simple tasks.
There are many benefits to your kids learning how to dress themselves. While most of these benefits revolve around physical capabilities, the mental and emotional benefits are also undeniable. Learning how to dress himself will give your child a boost in confidence. You can tell your child to choose one item of clothing the previous night that he can wear through the day. This will encourage him to dress even if they find some tasks particularly challenging and frustrating.