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Will be 3 in May, and really disinterested in self-dressing?

kkramer99kkramer99
in Pre-School and Daycare

DD has the classic only/first child syndrome - she also "wouldn't" hold her own bottle until she was > 12 mos old, so I get that we're to blame for the "helpless" act. But, was hoping for some advice about how to encourage her to dress herself.

She can put a loose T shirt/dress on if we hold it out for her to maneuver her head into. She can pull loose pants up (but not leggings, or her own underwear - she can't get it over her butt). Can't do anything w/ a sock. She has put on a shoe w/ velcro once, but never again.

If I have the time in the morning, I will insist that she work on it herself. But she gets so frustrated so quickly. I have given her some "private time" to get herself dressed - she just sobs w/ frustration. I think maybe I'm not explaining how to do it well enough? But in the end, doesn't she have to figure it out herself anyway?

My pediatrician said self dressing should be complete by 4 y/o, so in that sense I'm not worried, but on TB and w/ IRL friends, their 2 y/o are already doing all of this...any advice?

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Re: Will be 3 in May, and really disinterested in self-dressing?

  • MercierGirlMercierGirl member
    DS just turned 3 a few weeks ago and cant dress himself or do anything with his shoes. His daycare gets pissed off about the shoes but if he doesnt care to learn it right now then Im not going to FORCE him to. We try everyday, but he throws a fit and cries like your DD. So, he will learn, along with potty training, but only when he is ready! This child can speak spanish but cant go potty, so he is more into talking and learning things like that than putting his clothesand shoes one. Everyone learns differently!

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  • PeskyPesky member
    I wouldn't worry.  DD liked to hold her own bottles starting early.  DS never did, even though he could.  So far, DD can put on pants and underwear, shoes and socks sort of (provided they aren't tight) and take them off.  Shirts are still a bit problematic.  I remember reading an article in Parents or Parenting about when a child should be able to put on and take off certain items.  There were some, like tights, that had the age of 5 next to it!  And they broke down different stages like maneuvering a zipper up and down was one stage while actually getting the zipper threaded and started was a different one.  So accomplishing everything by 4 might not be quite accurate but you'll be amazed to see what she can do as time goes on.  PJ time is a good time for practicing.  I started off helping and guiding and then let her try herself and ask for help and then absented myself while she would put on her PJ pants.  I would doubt all 2YOs have the manual dexterity needed for a full clothing assembly so don't stress.  And re the underwear, yeah, I had to remind DD and show her how to reach back and pull it over her tushie.  She eventually got it.


    image
    DD -- 5YO
    DS -- 3YO

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  • little_mrslittle_mrs member

    My son will be 3 in June & sometimes he can get his shirt off by himself.  He can't put pants on by himself but he can pull them down. 

    I try to explain what we're doing as we put his clothes on. I tell him what needs to be done & wait a couple seconds to let him start.  Maybe try a little more guidance and patience.

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  • JOEBunnyJOEBunny member
    I think it stems from motivation.  My DD is 4.5 and can dress herself, many times over in fact, if I leave her to dressing up, but give her a pile of clothes and say "get dressed, so you can go to school" and you are SOL.  Now a mermaid costume, that takes 3 minutes, and has been able to do that for a long while.   I am with the posters who don't push it.  DD will now frequently dress herself in clothes she select without complaint.  (Yikes!)
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  • Temp159135562506975Temp159135562506975 member

    griffin didn't start dressing himself (or even having a desire to) until about 3.5... maybe a little before that.  Now he won't let us dress him - even if we want to so it gets done faster..... it all comes around.

     

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  • kkramer99kkramer99
    Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the input. I feel better about the whole thing. I know they have to get frustrated to a certain extent while they are learning, but I really wasn't loving pushing her so much. I will keep supporting/helping/allowing her to do what she wants to try.
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  • brightningbrightning member
    DD didn't start dressing herself until right around 3, or maybe a little after. It started with her have preferences on what she wore when I dressed her. Now, she picks out her clothes and dresses herself every day, whether I like it or not! I didn't really have to teach her how to do it, other than showing her how to put the tags in the back.
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  • jen5-03jen5-03 member
    Before 3 dd did not dress herself. Heck she just figured out how to get her pant and panties down to go potty as she turned 3! And then one day she came downstairs fully dressed wearing some crazy combo of clothes and had even put socks on!! But usually i still dress her because she wants me too and it's not that big of a deal and she' 3.5.
    - Jena
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