Dressing Skills Practice
To develop self-care independence through practising dressing and undressing skills.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Physical Development
- Learning area: Physical Development
- Level: EYFS 2-3
Objectives
- Attempts to dress independently
- Pulls on simple clothing items
- Uses velcro and zip fastenings
- Shows increasing self-care skills
Materials
- Dressing-up clothes with easy fastenings
- Dolls with clothes to dress
- Zip, button, and velcro practice boards
- Shoes with velcro straps
Instructions
TEACHING SEQUENCES: Break dressing into small steps: 'First, hold your trousers at the top. Now put one foot in. Now the other foot. Pull up!' Consistent verbal cues help children remember.
BACKWARDS CHAINING: Start by doing most of the dressing yourself but let the child do the last step (pulling the zip up the last bit). Gradually they do more steps independently.
USING DRESSING DOLLS: Practising on dolls is easier than self-dressing. 'Can you put teddy's coat on?' This builds skills without the frustration of self-dressing.
CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE: 'You put your shoes on all by yourself! Well done!' Each small step towards independence deserves recognition.