Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

How can I motivate my 4 year old to dress himself?

11 replies

BertieBotts · 16/12/2012 12:40

I know he can do it because he used to dress himself until earlier this year when he just stopped. DP reckoned it was a phase about wanting to still be a baby so I just helped him when he asked for help and hoped he would grow out of it, but it's been going on for months now.

It's annoying as well as he doesn't even let me dress him properly, he has to contort into all sorts of positions and then expects me to be able to put his clothes on e.g. curled into a ball on all fours, sticking one leg up in the air for me to put pants on. It's really frustrating, but he often does it when we're in a rush especially, so I just try to get him dressed as quickly as possible rather than getting into an argument about it. Sometimes if we have more time I'll walk off and say "Let me know when you're ready to stand properly to let me help you, or you can get dressed by yourself" but this just leads to a long drawn out frustrating battle.

Occasionally have had success with the "race" approach but even this doesn't work most of the time, if we're running late and I need to find something he insists on trailing around the house to "help" me find it rather than getting his shoes on or whatever, even if I try to make it sound fun.

Any suggestions??

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
DeckTheHallsWithBoughsOfJolly · 16/12/2012 12:45

I don't have one that age but I'd be tempted to take him out in whatever he's wearing when you're ready to go. Obviously provided he's had plenty of warning.

BertieBotts · 16/12/2012 13:04

I've tried that but he just screams and refuses to leave the house, so it doesn't really work. I'd have to literally shove him out of the door, I couldn't carry him and his bookbag and all his clothes to change into. I don't have a car to dump him in either so he'd have to walk to nursery in his pants and it's too cold and wet out at the moment for that to be fair, even if he has brought it on himself!

OP posts:
COCKadoodledooo · 16/12/2012 13:06

4 and at school or just 4 and a preschooler? I wouldn't worry too much if it's the latter but I'd be firmer with a school aged child.
Getting dressed races help here, but I have to say the thing that had the most impact was carrying him out to the car in his pyjamas. After days/weeks/months of rowing over it one morning I'd simply had enough. I told him we were leaving in 5 minutes if he was ready or not. He wasn't, so I carried him out anyway. Meltdown ensued, but I was firm. Told him if he calmed down quickly and was sensible about it I'd help him get dressed. He did, he apologised and the next day was dressed without a fuss in plenty of time for school.
Have had a bit of success with smiley face/star charts for other things too, which might work.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

COCKadoodledooo · 16/12/2012 13:07

Gah. Cross posted. Probably not desperately helpful then, sorry.

BertieBotts · 16/12/2012 13:09

Preschool, October birthday so just missed out on school this year.

OP posts:
HeathRobinson · 16/12/2012 13:11

Let him watch a bit of TV if he's dressed by such and such a time?

BertieBotts · 16/12/2012 13:24

We already use TV as a timer because it's easier for him to understand "You have until this programme finishes to eat your breakfast and then it's time to get dressed" than "You've got ten minutes left, hurry up"

I usually get him to get dressed after breakfast because he invariably spills milk down himself.

OP posts:
QTPie · 16/12/2012 13:34

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

BertieBotts · 16/12/2012 13:38

I find the TV helps him focus on eating without getting distracted. Plus currently we leave as soon as he's dressed so that adds an extra step which would mean getting up early

OP posts:
QTPie · 16/12/2012 14:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

JuliaScurr · 16/12/2012 14:23

get washed with damp flannel and drssed before leaving bedroom? worked for me

New posts on this thread. Refresh page