Around the age of two, many toddlers start to say “I can do it myself!” That is your cue. With a little patience and the right clothes, learning to get dressed can become one of the proudest parts of their day.
It may be hard to believe while you are still fastening poppers and tying tiny shoes, but those small fingers are getting stronger and more skilful every week. Here are the main dressing skills, roughly in the order most children pick them up.
Zipping
Zips make a satisfying noise, which helps. Unzipping is easier than zipping up, so start there at around 22 months. Practise on a jacket with a large zip, or tie a short piece of yarn to the tab of a smaller one so it is easy to grab. At first, you zip up and your child zips down.
At around 33 months, help them line up the two sides at the bottom and let them pull the zip up. It can help to pretend the zip is a little car and your child is the driver taking it to the top of the road. Zip, zip, zoom!
Putting on a jacket
The “flip” method works wonders. From around 33 months, lay the jacket on the floor, open, with the hood or collar by your child’s feet. Have them stand over it and bend down to put their arms into the sleeves. Then they lift their arms up and flip the jacket over their head, so it lands on their back. Ta-da!
Pulling on a top
Around their third birthday, your child can try a pullover or T-shirt. Stand in front of a mirror together and guide the top over their head. When it reaches their forehead, say “Where have you gone? I can’t see you!” and ask them to pull it down over their face. Then help them push one arm through each sleeve.
Choose simple, loose tops without buttons for the first attempts, and skip the polo necks for now. Practising on a doll or a soft toy is a fun way to build confidence.
Buttoning
Buttons are one of the trickiest skills, so give your child plenty of time. Around age four is typical. Show them how to hold the button in one hand and the fabric by the buttonhole in the other, then push the button through (“Can you see it peeking out?”). Big buttons with large holes are easiest. Your child can also practise on a teddy, a sibling or dad’s shirt.
Tips to make dressing easier
- Choose easy clothes. Soft, stretchy pieces and elastic waistbands are simple to pull on and off, which keeps frustration low. Our unisex tracksuit set and two-piece legging set are good examples.
- Let them choose. Offering two or three outfits to pick from gives your child a say without turning the morning into a fashion show.
- Make time to let them try. We all run late sometimes. But if you can, pick a calm moment, such as after bath time or at the weekend, and step back a little. You may be surprised by how much they can do.
All you need is faith, trust and a little pixie dust.