Here’s Why You Should Allow Your Toddler To Dress Themselves

With young children, busy mornings can be stressful. It’s never easy to get dressed and go anywhere on time. They don’t mean to ruin our mornings, but we know that’s precisely what happens a lot of the time. Imagine if there was a way to make mornings less chaotic while also imparting valuable life lessons to your toddler. The good news is that there is a way!

Teaching your toddler to dress themselves is as important as teaching them about hygiene and healthy food etc. Learning to dress is very important for toddlers. Here’s why.

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Why You Should Allow Your Toddler To Dress Themselves?

It’s surprising how a simple task like dressing themselves can help a toddler in their overall development. When you allow a toddler to dress themselves it fosters:  

Fine and Gross Motor Skills:

When toddlers slip on a pair of socks or button a shirt and zip zippers, it helps them build their fine motor skills. Dressing up requires some practice for toddlers and when they concentrate on getting the task done or which clothes go on first, it helps to develop cognitive skills. When they try to dress they use almost every muscle in their body and that helps them become more flexible and strong. 

Be patient if you see your toddler struggling to get dressed. Don’t rush to help them unless they ask you for it. They may struggle at first, but they will slowly learn the tricks. What you can do is remind them to wash their hands with a baby foam wash if they have touched their shoes.

Independence

By giving your toddler the freedom to choose their own clothes and dress themselves you help them become independent and this is an important skill. They feel trusted and capable. They also get an opportunity to express their individuality. 

However, keep in mind that you are still the caregiver in this situation. In order to have this procedure work as smoothly as possible, it’s essential to establish some rules up front. Here are some pointers.

• Explain to your children what clothes they can wear daily and what should be reserved for special occasions to avoid arguments. 

• Special clothing can be hung in the closet, while regular clothing can be stored in a dresser with easy-to-reach labels for children.

• Make sure to rotate your child’s wardrobe with each changing season so that their options are constrained to what you approve of.

Self Confidence

When you allow a toddler to dress themselves they feel capable of doing things themselves like deciding what they want to wear and how they want to wear it, it boosts their self-confidence. They also learn and understand how to solve problems when they figure out things like how to put the buttons correctly in the button holes or tie shoe laces. 

Language Development

Toddlers develop language skills when they name the colour of their clothes or the type of clothes they are wearing. 

Allowing a toddler to dress themselves can get frustrating especially if you are in a rush to go out but have patience, be supportive and cheer your child because you are helping them learn a very important life skill.