DS cant do up buttons- any advice

[DreamTeamGirl]

My DS is 5.6 but he simply CANNOT do up buttons- if he wears trousers with buttons or jeans he just leave them undone, and shirts are impossible for him.
Its all buttons too- even when he isnt WEARING the darn clothes!!

Any advice at all on how to deal- practicing on his trousers whilst not wearing them isnt working or going down at all well ...

DS2 has fine motor issues when he went into reception last September he couldn't do buttons, he can now do shirt buttons (not top one) but not trousers. OT explained it in terms of posting 'things', so starting with things like posting a letter through the letter box, moving down to smaller stuff like threading beads on a string. Not sure if not having done it all summer DS will be able to get his school shirt on next week!

I have taught children to do up buttons like this:
Start with a shirt or cardigan with buttons that are easy to do up (i.e.not really small buttons or tight buttonholes)
Get them to learn wearing the item of clothing, since this is what they need to achieve.
Do not try to teach them to look at what they are doing in the mirror.
The child need to put the tips of thumb and forefinger of one hand through the buttonhole if possible, or at least so they are pressed against hole ready to grab hold of the button.
Use thumb and forefinger of other hand to tilt the button so that one edge is posted through the hole into the opposite finger and thumb.
At first you might need to the 'posting' with the child just grabbing hold of the button.
Then you move onto them holding the button while you guide their hand.

I hope this helps. I was teaching SN children who had developmental delay but not fine motor issues, so I assume the technique will work with NT children but I have not tried it with my DD yet.

Thats really useful ladies, thank you
I will try that and also think about threading as he is a wierd combo of very artistic with good drawing skills, but totally clumbsy at the same time