Each child develops in their own way. We have given some ideas to help your child to increase their independence with dressing.
Begin with starting point, then click the green text for next steps and so on. Slowly reduce the help as each step becomes easier.
• Begin with undressing
• To help with balance, encourage your child to sit down to take off clothing
• Elasticated waistbands on shorts/trousers/skirts are easier to pull down
• Loose fitting clothing is easier .
• A design on the front of clothing that is different to the back can help your child to put it the right way round
• Sit down to pull on pants and trousers/skirt
• Some children find it difficult to put on a top (when they can’t see for a few seconds as they pull their top down). Please be aware of this and either count with child/sing to increase confidence. Sitting down can also be helpful.
• Having a mark inside the shoe may help the child to identify which shoe to put on which foot.
• Align the zip for your child and they pull up the zip.
• There are different methods for putting on a coat
•Initially practice fastenings when the child is not wearing the clothing.
•Doing up buttons; Practice with larger buttons with larger holes.
•Your child will be able to undress themselves and dress with minimal help
•Games such as posting a coin through a slot in a box can be helpful
•Your child can dress independently
• Your child can manage to fasten most buttons, zips and clasps .
• Practice tying shoelaces
Backward chaining is an approach that a parent/carer can facilitate. It enables the child to learn the final step of a sequence first giving a sense of completion and achievement.
When the child can successfully complete the final stage the step before is then added, this continues until the child can complete the whole process.
For more information: https://canchild.ca/en/resources/305-dressing-work-book)
Some children find their clothing a bit ‘itchy and scratchy’, the following ideas could help:
We hope this information will provide you with ideas to break each area of the activity into achievable steps.
If your child continues to have difficulties, please call us on 01223 218065 or ask your child's school, nursery or health professional to complete a referral form and send it to us.
For professionals: Referral forms can be found on the 'contact us' page
There are a range of products for special needs children available online...
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