Hi all. first time poster on this board. my DS, 3.7, is currently making a big issue out of getting dressed. Until quite recently we always dressed him as it was the quickest and easiest option, but a few months ago I realise that lots of other kids the same age were dressing themselves, plus DS was totally capable of much of it since potty training in Jan. So I started encouraging him to do bits of it himself. In June, he went on holiday with his godparents and when they came back they told us that DS had dressed himself quite happily. When he came home, though, he claimed he couldn't do it. 
In the last few weeks I have put his clothes out and told him he needs get himself dressed. He totally panics, getting hysterical and saying he can't do it, he'll get stuck, etc.
what approach would you take? I've tried being sympathetic and trying to calm him down, but that usually results in me helping him so much he's not really doing it for himself. I've also tried ignoring the panicking (which is almost entirely theatrical 
) and just leaving him to get on with it, even leaving the room if I have to. this more often results in him getting dressed, but he's usually screaming and crying too because I've walked out.
I don't want to mollycoddle him, but at the same time I don't want to be too harsh or make him think I'm angry at him.
When he does do it himself, I always give him lots of praise, hugs etc for being a big grown up boy, and he's usually very proud of himself too.
what would you do? If your DC was like this, what DID you do?