Dressing Skills: What to Expect and How to Help Your Child Learn

Learning the common age ranges that children are expected to perform specific dressing tasks can greatly minimize frustration and chances that you may expect too much or too little from your child.  Here are some helpful age ranges that children learn to dress:

12-18 months	➢      Cooperates by holding arm out for sleeves and put foot up for shoes ➢      Pushes arms through sleeves and legs through pants ➢      Begins to get undressed ➢      Pulls socks and shoes off ➢      Removes hat
24-30 months	➢      Gets undressed with help for fasteners and sequencing ➢      Helps pull elastic waist pants ➢      Unbuttons one large button
30-36 months	➢      Tries to put on socks ➢      Puts on front button shirt (without buttoning)
3-4 Years	➢      Gets dressed and undressed with minimal help ➢      Puts on shoes ➢      Puts on socks with minimal assistance at times ➢      Pulls down pants ➢      Unzips and zips non-separating zipper ➢      Zips down pants ➢      Buttons large buttons ➢      Snaps ➢      Unbuckles
4-5 Years	➢      Buckles ➢      Connect two-part separating jacket zipper and zips up ➢      Puts on socks correctly ➢      Puts on shoes with minimal assistance ➢      Knows front versus back of clothing
5-7 Years	➢      Dresses without help or supervision ➢      Ties Shoes

 

Dressing Tips To Help Your Child Learn

1. Remember, undressing is easier than dressing!  Expect your child to remove his clothing such as socks, pants, and shirt before he/she can put them on.

2.Loose fitting clothing is easier. Try looser fitting clothing first when practicing dressing with your child.

3.Timing is everything. Allow for extra time when practicing dressing as rushing may cause frustration and may discourage success.  Practice when your child can tolerate a challenge, avoid practicing if your child is tired, hungry, or ill.

4.Use simple directions when describing each task.  Encourage vocabulary such as up, down, in, out, back, front, and behind.  These concepts are important for following directions when learning how to dress.  Use your own clothing to demonstrate on yourself.  Provide physical help as needed and eliminate as your child becomes more proficient at task.

5.Practice with toys. When selecting gifts, there are many toys such as books, puzzles, and stuffed animals that have fasteners (buttons, snaps, buckles, laces).  You can also give your child a doll or teddy bear with infant clothing for dressing and undressing.  Make it fun!

6.Backward is better. Therapists often utilize a strategy known as “backwards training” that helps children achieve success with dressing by starting with smaller steps.  This is by having child accomplish last step of the task first, then proceeding step, and so on.

1. Step 1:  Adult puts socks over the toes, heel, and ankle; child pulls the sock up the leg.
2. Step 2:  Adult puts sock over the toes and heel; child pulls sock over the ankle and up the leg.
3. Step 3:  Adult puts sock over the toes; child pulls sock over the heel, ankle, and leg.
4. Step 4:  Child puts on sock independently.

7.Start with the weaker or non-dominant side.  If your child has a weaker side, start with that limb and expect child to use stronger arm when pulling shirt sleeve over the weaker hand/arm.

8.Know your parts!  Teach your child across many opportunities their body parts so they can learn ankle, knee, elbow, shoulder, and so on.

9.Consider positioning. If the child’s balance is off, sitting on chair may be easier for lower extremity dressing.  For some children sitting on floor may be easier.  See what works for your child.

10.Praise your child. Focus on what your child did successfully rather on what he/she did not accomplish.  Congratulate your child on doing their best!