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It’s morning time! Time to get dressed and begin the day.  Starting around the age of four your child should to the point where she can dress and undress herself with little assistance, comb her hair and begin the day.  Getting dressed is a daily, authentic, hands-on experience that enhances logical thinking and develops motor skills.  There are a few steps that can help ease frustration as you are teaching your child how to dress herself with minimal assistance.

First of all, pack your patience and allow extra time in the morning.  It’s important to not rush your child as she is getting dressed.  You’ll want to be there to assist your child when she is getting dressed in case she has a question or encounters a sticky zipper.  Remember to assist but not take over the task.  Give her tips as she goes; such as “put your head in first, then your arms”.  Keep in mind that the order she gets dressed in should not be an issue.  It’s all right is she wants to put her socks on first or her socks on last.  Getting dressed can be a challenge so use encouraging words as your child is making progress towards mastery. 

If choosing what to wear is an issue of frustration, narrow it down by choosing an outfit for your child yet still giving her a choice in what she will wear.  For instance, set out a pair of pants and two shirts or a shirt and two pairs of pants.  That way she can make a choice between what to wear and therefore she will feel like she made the final decision in her clothing selection. 

You buy your kids costumes that they like, be it a princess, a firefighter, magician or a doctor. This way they can recognize different types of clothing worn by different people. It also encourages their imagination and lets them assume professions if only during play time.