Self-help skills in a 4.5 year old

[asteamedpoater]

Is putting a coat on by yourself still often very tricky without a lot of guidance for many 4.5 year olds? And working out how to get clothes on that have, eg, ended up half inside-out? Do reception teachers pretty much expect to have to help a lot of the children with these things at PE and going home time? And when is this sort of thing generally expected without any help at school???

at our local school they don't help them at all apparently, even the 4 yr olds

god help ds when he goes in january....

Oh God, yes, Reception teachers expect to help with this kind of thing! Dd did her first PE lesson today, and they deal with it by getting the parents to help them put on their kit at the beginning of school. Probably saves them a good 15-20 minutes.

I asked dd1 (nearly 5) if she'd got dressed by herself. She said yes, but then realised her polo shirt was on inside-out, so 'a lady' had to help her.

Maybe it's just in dd's school though...

Ds has always come out of PE lessons with half his clothes inside out. Still does- and he's 8! Seems a bit late to expect the teachers to do anything about it really. I do try, but I half suspect him of wearing his brain inside out. In Reception needing help would be considered normal, though teachers are always grateful for any tricks you can teach your offspring to lighten their load.

Thanks everyone - that's mainly fairly reassuring!