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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How well can your 3.5 year old DS dress himself?

19 replies

IdrisTheDragon · 09/05/2007 13:32

Have realised that 3.5 DS doesn't make much effort to dress himself at all - and generally DH or I do it as we are needing to be somewhere quickly.

Have noticed that DD (19 months) makes more of an effort (albeit fairly unsuccessful ) and so I am now wondering if DH "should" be doing rather more himself.

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carocaro · 09/05/2007 13:35

no, DS1 is five and needs help with buttons, zips etc, he liked to do stuff himself at 3.5 but it took ages and he was always topsy turvey etc, so I let him if we had the time and helped him if not, I would not push it, 3.5 still is very little and there are plenty more things to get on with when you are that age!

carocaro · 09/05/2007 13:35

ZipadiSuzy · 09/05/2007 14:23

He can (just) but won't!apart from tops with small neck openings!

but little girl can and does sometimes! both 3.7 (dts)

ZipadiSuzy · 09/05/2007 14:24

My 11yo ds still has problems though

Sugarmagnolia · 09/05/2007 16:19

I am thinking your "DH "should" be doing rather more himself."

My DS is almost 4 and can mostly dress himself now but still needs help with shoes, socks and zips and things. But this is pretty recent. Encourage him to do it more himself if you want to but I wouldn't worry about it too much.

fannyannie · 09/05/2007 16:22

DS2 is 3.5yrs and can put on most of his clothes - the only thing he still has problems with it buttons, and things like jackets (hasn't quite mastered getting both arms in and getting it on the right way round).

yomellamoHelly · 09/05/2007 16:28

Ds will help by putting his legs into his trousers and he'll hold his armns up for me to feed a tshirt/top over and will then pull it down. Socks are a no=go. He will step into shoes if we hold them ready and flip over the velcro straps himself. Will do zips if we start them, but no buttons. He's 3 1/2 (October baby).

bozza · 09/05/2007 16:36

DD is nearly 3 and can pretty much dress herself and has been able to for some months. But it can take a while. She is quite independent in that kind of way though.

divastrop · 09/05/2007 16:47

my ds2 is 3.9 and has only just started to dress himself(i realised he is going to infant school in september and i thought i'd better teach him).he puts everthing on back to front etc.

saying that,ds1 is 9 and he still puts thing on back to front sometimes

my 17 month old dd on the other hand,already tries to dress herself,and my dd1 was dressing herself with no help from 2.5.i think theres a pattern there somwhere but i dont wish to be accused of sexism

Pitchounette · 09/05/2007 16:58

Message withdrawn

JodieG1 · 09/05/2007 17:00

My ds1 is 3.6 and has been managing to get on tops and trousers for a couple of months now. Can't do buttons, zips or socks and sometimes he manages to get his shoes on.

But your DH should definitely be doing more himself hehe love the typo

goblinqueen · 09/05/2007 17:01

DS, 3.2, can put his undies and trousers on, sometimes the right way round!

Haven't really thought he should be doing more, I'm sure it'll come. A few weeks ago I found him trying to put his socks on himself and heaped lots of praise on, but he's not tried it again yet!

bozza · 09/05/2007 17:06

DS (6) does things like putting his jumper on back to front (DD points it out to him) and his pants on top of his pjs etc, but it is because he is trying to read a book at the same time generally.

cece · 09/05/2007 17:09

He is able to completely dress himself when he wants to... However I tend to do it most of the time. The only thing he can't do is socks. However, his trousers, pants, tops and shoes are often on back to front or even inside outmost of the time!

FrayedKnot · 09/05/2007 17:10

DS 3.2 can put most things on himslef (not buttons or zips) - definitely pants & trousers, would probably manage a t-shirt or vest, and amazed me recently by managing to do his socks, but to get him to put anything on at all EVER, without a big fight, is my current challenge

Usually it ends up being me / DH as we are pinning him down 2 minutes before needing to leave the house etc

ZipadiSuzy · 09/05/2007 17:59

Girls are usually quicker learning skills like dressing!

slayerette · 09/05/2007 18:03

At 4, DS can do the whole lot- including buttons and zips - apart from shoelaces. That's why we love Velcro

EllieKthePA · 09/05/2007 18:07

DS1 can dress himself, trousers with elasticated waist only, but he does decide he can't do it regularly

i bought him pants with a picture on the front to help him get them the right way round on his own, and socks with the heel a different colour to help him get them right.

Original poster

IdrisTheDragon · 09/05/2007 20:21

Thank you all for the range of experiences - and I do agree that 31 year old DH really should be able to do a bit more .

I think I will gently try and encourage him - as Pitchounette says he is quite capable of taking pants and trousers up and down etc. He also has socks with a different coloured heel, so we will have a go there as well.

I am pretty sure that DD will go for the "independent " route .

FrayedKnot, I am veyr with you on the needing to pin down child when you are leaving the house very very soon.... .

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