Lifelong skills that begin in childhood include learning how to put on and take off clothing. When it comes to making decisions and testing boundaries, toddlers are naturally independent, curious, and eager learners. Toddlers gain confidence and a sense of accomplishment by learning how to put on their clothes and shoes. When they can dress, their self-esteem also increases.
There is no ideal age when kids start showing interest in dressing themselves. Some toddlers are eager to put on their clothes and change frequently during the day and some are not. The majority of toddlers begin by taking their baby girl clothes and shoes off before learning how to put them back on. Hats, shoes, socks, and pants that are simple to take off are frequently the first to go. Children develop skills in more complicated parts of dressing as they grow older, including knowing what to wear depending on the weather.
Toddler dressing is a process in which the route, as well as the destination, are crucial. A variety of physical abilities, including fine and gross motor control, eye-hand coordination, decision-making, and even organization, are necessary for getting dressed. Since toddlers learn how to recognize and name various clothing items, as well as their colours and places on the body, dressing also aids in the development of linguistic skills. Expect your child to put tops over their legs and arms through their pant legs when they first start learning how to dress.
By the age of three, kids can dress and undress themselves. According to their level of interest and practice, this will vary. It's common for smaller children in a family to pick up the skill of dressing themselves before older siblings did.
Signs that your child is ready to take charge of their own dressing,
Around the age of 12 months, your child might
- Help them get their arms through sleeves and up the arms of tops and jumpers when getting dressed.
- Take off their hat, shoes, and socks, and expose their feet to check for socks and shoes.
Around the age of 2, watch for your youngster to
- Removing an unfastened coat or jumper.
- Shoes with Velcro or elastic fastening can be removed.
- Draw the elasticized pants down.
- On tops, look for the neck and armholes.
By the age of 3, watch for your youngster to
- Donning shoes and socks.
- Practising with enormous buttons, setting up press studs, and zipping and unzipping jackets.
- Removing undergarments and pants.
- Without assistance, putting on tops and T-shirts.
How can I start assisting my toddler in learning how to dress? As they learn to dress, start by encouraging them to sit on the floor or in bed because this will improve their balance.
Give your child two or three outfit options. Giving toddlers fewer options will assist to avoid tantrums, which are more frequent when they feel overwhelmed. Break dressing down into individual, sequential processes. Explain to your young child what they need to do. Say, "Push your head through this hole, raise your arms," and similar instructions. Lay out the clothing in the correct sequence for wearing it. For instance, a dress or slacks and a T-shirt, followed by a jacket, socks, and shoes.
It's crucial to not rush your young child because learning takes time and repetition. If they make a mistake, first let them identify where they went wrong before assisting them in making it right.