by Samantha Elliott

Created on: March 24, 2010

As with many learning experiences, teaching your toddler to get dressed requires an abundance of patience and positive reinforcement. While the idea of it sounds incredibly simplistic, it can take a few years for your little gem to fully master it.

Before you even begin, remind yourself that your mini person’s body in comparison to your body is not exactly to scale. Your toddler’s head makes up a much larger percentage of his/her body than it does with yours. Try and picture your self getting dressed with a giant cranium! Putting your hands on top of your head is an easy feat. As for your toddler, his arms may not even be long enough to allow it. Often times, the tot is also dealing with a big, healthy belly and overly plump thighs.

Like those of us who figure out a maze by following it backwards, your child may do best by learning to undress first. Have him find his toes by tugging off his socks. When you see the teeny tootsies, be sure to clap vigorously, have a bright smile, and cheer. Pants are relatively easy; they usually sit below the toddler tummy and are half-falling off already anyway. The shirt is always the hardest, of course. Haven’t we adults gotten hopelessly stuck inside a too-tight shirt in the dressing room before? Remember how awkward your body felt trying to wriggle out of it? Your child will probably carry the same out-of-sync feelings with getting in and out of shirts for some time. Therefore, you would want to help him with the tops for as long as he needs it. Pull the shirt off together and cheer some more. Your toddler could listen to you clapping for him all day-it will never get old.

A great source of inspiration to a toddler of course is watching his parent. Through his eyes, the world is a magical place full of wonder and amazement and you are at the center of it all. He wants to do whatever you do. Make sure to throw on a sweater or button up a shirt in front of your child to show that this is something to be done independently. Siblings can also serve as great role models in this department, as the competitive instinct usually kicks in early on.

This process will be a gradual handing over of the reins, so to speak. Work on each clothing item as a separate entity, and assist as needed. Don’t forget that your beautiful cherub is also a ticking time bomb, ready to blow at any minor encumbrance. Do not set him off by being overly critical. Choose clothes that are simple and have a lot of give. The toddler t-shirts with the wider opening are a great beginner item. Show your tot how to locate the hole for the head first by finding the tag or label. All the while, sing a silly song about your big boy or girl and his/her getting dressed adventure. Expect pants to be on the tricky side as well, and it will take a lot of repetitions to figure out which leg goes where. Make it easier by laying them out flat on the floor and giving lots of direction. Buttons and zippers will be rather complicated since the dexterity required is usually absent at this stage. You may want to give your child a stuffed animal with a removable outfit to practice on. No matter the results, dole out praise every step of the way.

Once completed, let your toddler show off in front of a full length mirror and let him know how fantastic he looks. Excitedly share the news of his new ability with other family members right in front of him. His socks may be on backwards, his waistline twisted, and his shirt may be rolled up his back, but resist the urge to fix these imperfections. Instead, get out that camera and proudly snap away at another milestone accomplished!

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