Look at your child’s ability to dress and undress, and decide where to start.
Getting started
Undressing is often the best way to start teaching your child dressing skills. It is usually easier than dressing. For example, opening fasteners can be easier than closing them.
It can be helpful to begin with loose bottoms such as pyjamas or other bottoms with an elasticated waist.
Avoid tight clothing, if you can. These can be harder for your child to manage.
Making progress with undressing
When your child can take their pyjamas or shorts off by themselves, move on to more difficult clothing such as trousers.
Give them some help, if they need it. You could use the backward chaining teaching approach. This is where you do most of the steps in a task and your child does the last step.
For example, you may pull your child's trousers down to their knees. They can complete the final step by taking the trousers off, over their feet.
Use the same language
Use the same language every time you do these tasks. Take pictures to create visuals, if you think this would help.
Leave 1 step to go
Sometimes, it can help to leave clothing in an uncomfortable position. For example, when taking off their trousers, leave them almost off, with just 1 step to go. Your child may see that the task is not finished, and they complete it.
You could also try dressing up, as this can make it more fun.
Teaching dressing skills
When you teach your child dressing skills, work on 1 aspect of dressing at a time. This will help prevent unnecessary frustration.
It can help to use visual schedules or pictures to guide your child. These show them what to do next and help them stay on track.
When learning to dress, break the tasks down into:
- the lower half of the body
- the upper half of the body
- shoes and socks
Lower-half dressing
When they start to learn how to dress their lower body, start with elasticated shorts, pyjamas or skirts instead of trousers. After some practice, they can move on to tighter leggings or tights.
Then move on to trousers with buttons and zips.
It can help for your child to lean against the wall or sit supported in a corner to start. If suitable, they could stand to complete the task.
Upper-half dressing
Start with loose-fitting, short-sleeve tops. For example, a vest, T-shirt or pyjama top.
When your child can do this, try harder clothing such as long-sleeve tops.
Have a purpose to getting dressed. For example, you're going to the child's favourite place.
Taking shoes off
If your child is working on removing shoes and socks, try backward chaining.
For example, you could untie and loosen the laces. Later, you could untie the laces but not loosen them. When your child can loosen the laces, they could learn how to untie the laces.
Putting socks on and off
When learning to take off socks, start by using socks that come off easily. For example, fluffy bedtime socks.
Use backward chaining. Pull the sock over the heel and then encourage the child to take the sock off the toes.
Play a game to make it fun. For example, you could ask your child to use their "magic thumbs" to push the sock down or push the shoe off.
Make sure they are sitting in a good position to reach their socks and shoes.
Putting on socks can be harder to learn. Start by placing the socks partly over your child's foot and encourage them to do the last step.
Ask your child to use their "magic thumbs" again. Help them to hook their thumbs into the sock and pull it up. Rolling down the top of the sock can make it easier for them to get their foot in.
Make sure they are in a good sitting position when doing this task.
This content was adapted from a 6-part video series of videos by Enable Ireland.