Many toddlers enjoy mimicking adult like activities such a cooking and cleaning, yet there is another activity that may inspire logic and decision making. That activity is learning how to dress themselves. Here are some tips inspired by Thriving Family Magazine on how to teach children how to dress:
1. Ask your child to observe the weather outside.
- Does it look hot or cold?
- Tell them what the temperature is and associate the temperature with a season. For example: “Although it is sunny out, the weather channel only says it is 38 degrees outside, that feels like winter weather. Burrrrr, I’m shivering.”
2. Talk about what the plans for the day are.
- Are you going grocery shopping with your child, going to the playground, or attending a wedding? This will help teach them the difference between casual and formal.
3. Separate clothing into categories.
- Put short sleeve shirts in one draw and long sleeve shirts in another.
4. When children make what may be considered a good selection for a clothing choice, cheer them on. Toddlers love positive attention!
5. Based on the good dress decisions of the week, as a reward for dressing well, on a day that you and your child are spending in the house, give them the option to dress in their favorite outfit such as their superhero pajamas.
What tips do you have for teaching your child how to dress themselves?
