Adapting tasks to help your child dress themselves

There are many ways to adapt or modify dressing tasks to make them easier for your child.

Tips to help with shoes and socks

Use socks with a coloured heel to make it easier to put the sock the right way around. Or mark the back of the sock with thread on the inside top edge.

Avoid tight-fitting socks. Try sensory-friendly fabrics and seamless socks - these are widely available in shops and online.

If your child puts the shoes on the wrong feet, place a small mark or sticker on the inside arch side of each shoe.

Your child can then match these sides up, so the shoes are in the correct position for each foot.

Adapting tasks to make dressing easier

To make sure clothes are the right way around:

• choose T-shirts or tops with a picture on the front - point the picture out to your child
• encourage your child to lay the T-shirt or top onto the table with the picture 'kissing the table'
• check the back of the clothes has a label, or mark the back with coloured thread
• mark the front of a top and lay it face down on the table with the back rolled up for an easy grip - your child can see the mark for the front
• choose a coat that has lining in a different colour to the coat
• encourage body awareness by naming the parts of the body your child uses when putting on clothes

Checklist for your child before leaving home

It can help to have a ‘looking good’ checklist at the front door close to a long mirror.

You can prompt your child with questions such as:

• how does your hair look - do you need to brush or comb it?
• do you look ready to leave the house?
• is your face dirty or clean - what should we do if it’s dirty?

Use these guiding questions to help them figure things out. Do this rather than saying something like: "Oh, you have food on your face, go and clean your face with some water."

Other things for your child to check

To make sure their clothes are on in the correct way, ask them to check that their:

• collar is fixed neatly
• shirt is tucked in or out
• tights are pulled all the way up
• skirt or dress is not tucked into their tights

Dressing game

Get dressed, but make some mistakes. Ask your child to help you to get ready to leave the house. This can help your child to problem-solve when things do not look quite right.

If independent dressing is a priority

If independence is a priority, consider making adaptations to help your child achieve a task.

Simple things can help, like providing an elasticated tie or using alternative types of laces.

Many mainstream and specialist shops stock adapted clothing and footwear. Check in-store or online.

Also, encourage your child to self-monitor.

Ask things like:

• what went wrong there
• what worked

This can help them figure things out for themselves. It also helps them develop independence skills.