Dressing themselves

~Roo'sMama~ wrote: How old were your kids when they started learning how to dress themselves? Andrew is 2 1/2 (he'll be 3 in June) and I am just starting to have him do it himself. I've let him try in the past when he wanted to, but it just seemed too hard for him so I just always did it. Now he can put on his own underwear and pants, but he needs help getting them pulled up. He can't get his shirt on by himself but I'm letting him try. I still put his shoes on for him too, and he probably could do that one easily.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Madison will be 3 in May and she gets herself dressed for the most part. She still needs help with buttons & zippers, and she can't manage shirts with tight necklines like turtlenecks on her own either. She's not good with socks and shoes are iffy - she can manage her snow boots just fine, but has trouble with her sneakers. I think a big part of it for her is wanting to be like Brooke, and as soon as she started asking to dress herself I let her try - unless we were in a hurry, it didn't really matter if it took half an hour to get her pants on.

Though there are still days she goes all day long and it's not until they're getting ready for bed I notice her underwear are on backwards.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: All 3 of my kids were dressing themselves as soon as they "could".

Naomie is 2 1/2 and she dresses herself. She has trouble with tights, and her coat zipper.

I never waited until they said they wanted to do it, I just kind of made them do it.... and helped when they needed it.

it helped that I let them fool around with clothes when I was doing laundry though.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: For some reason I just never really thought about it until recently. I think it was just easier for me to do it myself. I don't mind him taking a long time to get his clothes on if he's actually trying the whole time, but if I give him something to put on and leave him be, he'll just drag his feet all day so that he can run around naked. This boy should have been born in the jungle somewhere or something... he'd be much happier if he didn't have to wear clothes.

My3LilMonkeys replied:
Madison is the same way - the second we get home from somewhere she's in the bathroom dumping clothes in the hamper as fast as she can get them off....she is naked all the time if I let her.

Mommy2BAK replied: ya know... this has never even crossed my mind. I guess it's time I make Blakely dress herself since she will be 4 in July. She likes to pull random clothes out of her drawer and put them on, but I guess I could start laying out the right stuff and letting her do it herself.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Lol, well now I don't feel so bad! I'm glad I'm not the only one on top of this. Of course he wouldn't be able to put on a shirt himself right now if he pulled it out of his dresser, but he is a year younger than Blakely - I would hope that by this time next year he'd be able to do that!

wcs40110 replied: dakota is 18 months and likes to put her pants on, kind of grasps the concept of a shirt, and likes to put her own socks on.

moped replied:
Jack and Blakely are the same age and Jack has JUST since we have been in Palm Springs been really dressing himself, but the problem is that he picks the worst clothes that don't match and likes to wear his shoes on the wrong feet - I can't stand it!!!

I never pushed him to because it is easier if I do it - I know he can but you know how it is

Cece00 replied: Natalie will be 3 in Sept & she can get on shorts & pants & some shirts. And some shoes, but only if they are really easy to get on. I still dress her most of the time b/c its way faster but she tries a little. I dont think there is a major rush before 3 yrs old.

Anthony275 replied: i didnt dress myself until maybe 1st grade

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: I dont remember when they started dressing themselves full time....2-2.5 at the latest. Occasionally I will still help with a difficult button or somehting. Johnny is very service oriented so I will probably be dressing him forever he is trying to put on his own shoes though....he is nowhere close but he is trying that

Boo&BugsMom replied: I can't remember, but I do remember one day Tanner just wanted to dress himself and he's been doing it ever since. I just can't remember what age. I think he was about 3 or 3.5. I do still lay out his clothes for him most of the time though, or else he'd look like a hobo every day if I let him choose. If we are staying home for the day I let him pick out what he wants to wear, but if we are going out of the house I lay them out for him.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Ethan just started dressing himself about 6 mos ago...so he was 3 1/2. I never thought about it until he started doing it. I'm sure Maddie was dressing herself a lot sooner.