Top tips for dressing

Preparation & environment

Choose a quiet space: Minimise distractions like TV or noise.

Safe seating: Floor, chair, or bed with feet flat; use a wall for support if needed.

Go slow: Practice in small steps and give lots of praise.
Timing: Make sure to practice when there is more time and you are not in a rush i.e. during the weekend and not right before school. Create opportunities for practice throughout the week.

Dressing skills

Start with undressing: Easier than dressing—try at bedtime.
Use a mirror: Helps your child see and adjust clothes.

Give space: Some children do better without close watching.

Backward chaining

For example, when practicing buttons, ask the child to do the last button and then progress to doing 2, 3 etc.

Backward Chaining Technique

Clothing Tips

Big buttons first: Easier to handle—practice on your clothes.

Zips: Add a key ring or zip pull to the zips handle so you have a bigger zip/loop to grab and pull.

Lay clothes in order.
Use clothes with pictures/logos: Helps with front/back orientation.

Physical activity for everyone: Tips to feel confident and have fun!

Socks & Shoes

• Easy socks: socks with colour toes/heels.
• Mark shoes: Stickers cut in half and placed on inside edges to help match left/right.

Shoelaces

• Practice sitting at a table with shoe in front of them: Easier than on the foot.
• Flat laces: Easier to tie; use long ones.
• Colour-code laces: Two different colours for each side of the shoelaces, to help teach bow-tying steps.

Shoelace Tying - YouTube