Perfect Fit
My son can't dress himself. What should I do?
Q My son is 3 and into everything, but shows no interest in dressing himself. How can I encourage him to start?
A Learning how to dress helps your child gain independence and self-help skills. Give him no more than two choices, then say something like, “I know you didn’t want to take off your pajamas — they’re so comfy. Can you please hold your book while I help you put on your pants?” This way, you’d have empathised with your child and used a fun distraction to get the job done. Don’t rush your child into getting ready. Instead, wake up half an hour earlier, or let your child help you lay out his outfit the night before, so there is less dawdling and conflict in the morning. Preschoolers usually like going to school, so tell your child that if he doesn’t get dressed soon, he’ll miss free-play time as he’ll be late. You can let your preschooler take charge of what he wears sometimes. If he wants to wear his favourite T-shirt every day for weeks, let him. Or let him choose his own clothes and dress himself. Set a timer for five minutes and if your son is dressed before the timer goes off, he gets a sticker.
This question was answered by
Preman Komala Devi, Principal Curriculum Specialist, NTUC Childcare Cooperative Ltd
If you have any comments or practical suggestions, write to us at editor@family.sg
- Mother & Baby
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