Getting dressed independently

[graysor]

I still have to dress and undress my 3yo but I’m sure she could/ should be doing this more independently now. Any tips or tricks for teaching her to do it herself?

I struggle to explain / describe to her how to do it and she gets frustrated quickly so I just end up doing it for her. So I need some strategies to help.

She can get trousers, pants and socks off. Sometimes she can get easy trousers on. She can do her coat on and off, but that’s about it.

Any advice? Tips or tricks?
Thanks!

Currently teaching my 3yo to dress herself as well, she's nearly there she just struggles sometimes and can't get the hang of socks

I call arms and legs tunnels so I tell her to find the tunnels. Always point the label out to her and say "label at the back" then turn it the right way for her. Showed her that tops have a big hole (bottom) and a small hole (neck) and ask her "where's the big hole?" so she looks for that and pulls it over her head. I found that I just had to show her things and teach her stuff like holding onto the bottom of the top to get her elbow in the arm hole etc. Also using repetaive phrases that stick in her mind.

It just takes lots of practice.

Stuff like this always makes me think how crazy it is that things we see as every day and easy need to be learned and practiced by little kids.

Thanks lettuce, that’s exactly the kind of thing I need to do, but just didn’t know how to approach it.

Dd particularly struggles getting her arms out of sleeves, any tips for how she should tackle them?

Just take comfort in the thought that in a couple of years when you are in a hurry and have 5 mins to get out the house, they WILL NOT let you help them and will take at least that time just to pull their tights up as you pace about outside their room ...

I really wouldn't spent too much time on this. She will learn to dress herself soon enough.

Children gain different independence skills at different ages and stages. She should do it at the right age for her, whatever that is.

I'd rather help them until they're naturally taking over, at which point they are quicker at dressing themselves and don't find it frustrating or tiresome.

graysor I thought her to hold the end of the sleeve above her head with the opposite hand and pull it up whilst pulling her arm down if that makes sense. Found I really had to think about what I do to get my clothes on and off and teach her to do the same.

*taught