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Learning to get dressed 

a child

Dressing and undressing is an important part of everyday life. Dressing is a skill that is learnt gradually. Babies and children tend to start with learning to hold out an arm or a leg for you to put a top or trousers on. They then learn to take off shoes, socks and a hat, before learning how to take off other items of clothing such as trousers. Next, they may start learning how to help put on clothing. 

What can be difficult for children when dressing? 

Dressing requires lots of little steps. Children have to be able to balance to put on clothes, recognise which way round items go, remember the sequencing of items and be able to pull and push things in the right direction to get them on.  

Top tips for dressing 

  • Rushing to get to school in the morning can be a difficult time to practice dressing skills. Try at the weekends or school holidays when there is more time to practice.  

  • Talk through what you are doing using simple language to reinforce the actions. For example, ‘next we put on socks’.  

  • Try marking the back or the front of clothing items, or use clothing that has a clear logo. Use questions to help your child identify what is the back and front, and what is inside and outside. For example, ‘can you feel the seam?, that’s on the inside.’, ‘can you find the logo?, that goes at the front’.  

  • Encourage your child to sit down when putting on clothes, especially socks, or when putting trousers over their feet; then they are not also focussing on staying balanced.  

  • Use clothing items that are slightly bigger so they are easier to get off and on.  

Ideas for activities which help with learning to dress 

  • Motivation is key to learning. Find an activity that your child enjoys that they have to get changed for. This could be a sports activity or playing dress up. 

  • Playing dress up with teddies and dolls can can help children learn the order of putting clothes on and which way round they go.  

  • Dressing skills can be incorporated into games, such as ‘Simon says’ or into obstacle courses where you have to put on silly items.  

Useful websites with further resources:  

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde KIDS site: Kids Independently Developing Skills:  

CBeebies Parenting: Getting ready for the day: 

 

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