Children's Dressing Skills: Development & Clothing Care

Developing Children's Dressing Skills

Understanding Clothing Habits Development

Children's habits related to clothing can be distinguished into three main areas:

• Dressing and Undressing: Fostering autonomy in self-care.
• General Appearance: Emphasizing cleanliness and appropriate clothing choices.
• Clothing Care: Promoting cleanliness, order, and maintenance.

Initially, the adult is responsible for these tasks. As a child grows, they begin to participate actively in these processes.

Key Considerations for Skill Development

Developing clothing habits is an activity that significantly encourages affective development, as it promotes communication and interaction. To foster a child's interest and motivation, consider the following strategies:

• Clear Explanations: Explain what to do and how to do it.
• Time Organization: Allocate sufficient time for practice, especially during the initial stages.
• Adult Presence: Maintain a supportive adult presence during the assimilation process.
• Step-by-Step Guidance: Provide clear instructions on the sequence for putting on or taking off clothes.
• Practice and Play: Encourage regular practice and propose these activities as a game.
• Easy-to-Use Clothing: Purchase clothes with features that are easy for children to manipulate (e.g., large buttons, elastic waistbands).
• Effective Teaching Strategies: Employ various methods to teach and reinforce skills.

Habits Acquisition by Age Group

Ages 1-3 Years

During this stage, children begin to:

• Show interest in dressing and undressing themselves.
• Learn to use Velcro fasteners or zippers.
• Start putting on shoes.
• Begin to store and hang clothes with assistance.

Ages 3-6 Years

By the end of this stage, children should be able to:

• Dress and undress themselves without significant help.
• Manage buttons and tie simple knots.
• Turn clothing right-side out if it is backward.
• Evaluate their own image.
• Participate in cleaning their shoes or towels.
• Develop initial criteria for clothing selection, reflecting an aesthetic preference.

Ages 6+ Years

Children at this age:

• Dress and undress independently, with less need for adult control, typically by 7 or 8 years old.
• Are capable of organizing drawers and participating in folding or ironing clothes.
• Focus more on the choice of clothes and their maintenance.
• By approximately 14 years old, they independently choose their clothes according to the season and activity.

Developmental Aims for Clothing Habits

The following aims for clothing habits are typically initiated and supported within the family environment:

Aims for Ages 1-3 Years

• Remove shoes and socks.
• Take off and put on a coat.
• Hang up a jacket.
• Differentiate between the front and back of clothing.
• Learn how to orient a glove on a hand or a shoe on a foot.
• Fold, save, or hang clothes that are easy to manage.
• Care for clothing and shoes by keeping them clean and removing simple stains.
• Protect clothes with appropriate items like bibs.
• Begin to appreciate beautiful clothing pieces, color combinations, and accessories.

Aims for Ages 3-6 Years

• Dress and undress independently.
• Turn their clothes right-side out if they put them on backward.
• Unbutton and button clothes, and use zippers and Velcro.
• Fold and sort clothing, or place it neatly.
• Collect and organize their school backpack.
• Keep shoes clean and well-cared for.
• Tie shoelaces (simple knots).
• Relate weather conditions to the appropriate type of clothing.