When could your child dress themselves?

[SamanthaVimes]

I’m wondering when kids start to be able to dress themselves (as in physically be able to put clothes on correctly without help but with supervision)?

My 20 month old keeps trying to put her clothes on but isn’t very successful. The only thing she can manage is her hat.

I’m happy encouraging her to try but wondering how long the “I do it!” phase will last but she isn’t actually able to do it IYSWIM

Once she can get the clothes on I’m more than happy for her to do it herself!

My DD had just turned 3 before she could be left to choose & put on an outfit in entirety - its frustrating when they want to try to do it themselves and you just want to get their clothes on as soon as possible!

Our 6 year olds still put the odd top on back to front, but then I'm late 30's and did that last week too 🤣

Just before she was 2 & it was fun from there on in as she was very opinionated in what she wore & it was a fashion show every time we left the house 🤪 🥴 she's still doing that now as a teen

I'd advise getting in early with teaching them about weather & occasion appropriate clothes & giving 3 outfits to chose from, cuts down a lot of stress

Between 3 and 4, she could definitely do it before starting reception. She had strong opinions on clothing combinations from about 2 though and often wore very interesting outfit.

My DD was ultra independent and wanted to do it from around 2 and a half. It lead to lots of frustration, mine and hers, eventually I just let her do it so long as she was ready by the time DS went to school. She was very creative and total strangers would ask her if she had dressed herself. A red tutu and a plastic tiara featured heavily.

She once had such a tantrum I took her on DS's school run in just a pair of knickers, she found this embarrassing and always got herself together after that. Apparently I was similar and we were in a lift share to nursery school (in the 70s when no one bothered with car seats) and I delayed the lift share daily by changing my mind about what I was wearing and whether my hair was appropriately styled.

DS couldn't be less interested in clothes and at 10 still proffers a foot so I can put on his socks. On a bath free day he just put on a fresh pair of pants over a dirty pair and has been known to put his school uniform on, on top of pyjamas.

Between 4 and 5 years old for our boys
Our youngest turns 3 next month and can't dress himself. He probably could, but he won't. And when he does try... He struggles/gets things back to front/frustrated when his arms don't go through the arm holes etc

3

Sounds like I’ve got a way to go before she can get the right limbs in the right holes then! Thanks everyone

At age 2 dd2 was pretty much proficient. Around 5 suddenly became lazy unable. I'm not sure which phase was worse. 😆

Which phase meaning the bit before she was actually able so around 18 months - 2 or the pretending they were unable because they couldn't be bothered 😆

My daughter is 2.5 and she can do it all herself. I obviously don't have time to allow this every day but she does enjoy it 🤣

Hm, I'd say about 3.5 before she could reliably do almost every item of clothing, socks is an exception. She will be 4 in a couple of months and still can't manage her own socks, there are also odd garments she can't manage herself due to the buttons or whatever.

My 3.5 year old can, but her brothers were a little older.