How to Get Kids to Dress Themselves

1 Play Dress-Up

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Make learning to dress themselves fun by having them play dress-up! Get their imaginations going as they put on some capes, zip up some dresses, and throw on some character shoes. Your child will be having so much fun playing make-believe that they'll hardly notice they're learning important motor skills along the way.

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2 Begin With Easy-to-Wear Items

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Start with easy-to-wear items, such as elastic pants, dresses, and buttonless shirts and blouses. Once they've mastered these, graduate them into pants with zippers, shirts with buttons, and dresses with hooks.

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3 Give Your Child Fewer Options

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When a child is learning how to dress themselves, it's important to not overwhelm them with too many options or responsibility in the beginning. Instead of having them dress themselves head to toe right from the get-go, focus on one piece of clothing at a time, such as underwear one week and a pair of pants the next.

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4 Stay Organized

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To help make the learning process easier and more seamless, organize your child's clothing by season, style, and color. This way when it comes time for them to dress themselves, they can quickly and efficiently find what they need.

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5 Practice, Practice, Practice

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For children, learning to dress themselves may take some time — and that's perfectly alright! Just be sure to be supportive and guide them each step of the way. Practicing, by using easy-to-use slippers and oversize t-shirts, during downtime can help make the process go smoother.

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