How to Encourage Your Child to Dress Himself

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By jaredsgirl
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Encourage Your Child to Dress Himself

Encouraging your child to dress himself fosters independence and helps him to learn valuable decision making skills. You usually can start letting your child dress himself around the age of 4 years old, though it can be taught to him at about 3 years old with some assistance. Here are some tips for encouraging your child to dress himself so that he can gain independence, but you can also be sure he is wearing an appropriately matched outfit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Encourage your child to choose between two outfits you put out. Allowing your child to make a decision regarding what he should wear for the day helps him to gain valuable skills for independence. However, letting your child pick out his own clothes could be a disaster so it’s best to choose two outfits you think look good and allowing your child to pick the one he wants to wear. This way, he is making the choice and will feel independent in doing so, even if it was your two choices he made a decision about. Praise your child after he choices the outfit he wants to wear to encourage him to keep using his independence and decision making skills later.
Step 2

Show your child a few times how to dress. Letting your child learn by example is the best way to help him understand what dressing himself involves. Take time with each piece of clothing as you show your child how to dress. First put on his underwear, his socks, his pants, and his shirt...one by one (or in any order you prefer). Tell your child what you are doing as you dress him so that he understands. Let him know each article of clothing you are putting on him and keep him informed of each step. This way, he’ll know how to do it himself when it’s his turn to try.
Step 3

Allow your child to try dressing himself with your assistance. Stand by and watch your child repeat the same things you did when you dressed him and he watched. Lend a hand as needed and guide him through the changing process. Talk to him as you both dress him and tell him what you are both doing. Speaking to him while helping him dress will allow him to understand through repetitive talk what needs to be done. Your child may get a little upset at you helping him because he’ll want to do it himself. Just explain that he is going to have that chance the next time.
Step 4

Encourage your child to dress all by himself while you give him privacy. Let your child be alone in his room and dress himself without you hovering over him. This will be a little difficult for you since you’ll feel compelled to want to help. Try to be patient and just let your child figure it out. You’ve already shown him how to do it a few times so it’s time to see how well he does on his own. Your child will feel so proud of himself that you let him do it alone and you will probably be amazed at how good he does dressing himself. Praise your child when he comes out of the room dressed. Help him with anything that was a little messed up and tell him that you’re very proud of him.