Can you 3-4 yr olds dress themselves?

I know that Natalie can dress herself fully because she's snuck to her room to put on different pants/shirts once or twice in the middle of the day before. But as a normal daily routine, I or my dh dress them in the morning. I guess in the hustle and bustle of trying to get everyone out for the day its easier? This morning in trying to get them out of the house I even put their shoes on. We also put their jammies on. So I'm wondering do your kids dress on their own? Am I the only parent still dressing their kids at this age? Natalie & Brooke will be 4 next month and I'm thinking we should be making them assist a bit more in this department.

 

My daughter has been doing it for about a year now. She picks out an outfit and puts it on each morning(I pick it out if we are leaving the house). Nolan has just started having more interest in doing it, but he still likes a little help now and then.

 

They can both dress themselves with a little help with buttons or snaps.

I tend to help them as sometimes it takes so L O N G!

 

Mine didn't really start dressing themselves consistantly until they were 4. They started summer camp, and had to change 2-3 times a day there, and we just followed through at home.

 

they likely can - with maybe some help on buttons, zippers, snaps. I now it seems easier/faster to do it yourself, but once they are over the initial transition you are not doing it all the time you will think it is sooo much better to have them do it themselves. Just leave extra time. Maybe start with bedtime and start bedtime 10 or so minutes early?

 

They both can do most of it by themselves. They still need help with pants due to buttons and snaps. I still help them get dressed in the mornings so that we can make it to work on time. My daughter is infamous for changing her pajama shirt if it gets slightly wet. My son could care less but he dresses himself if forced.

 

They can and do dress themselves a lot of the time. If we're in a hurry I'll help or have one of my older kids help them. The only thing they seem to consistently struggle with, is getting their socks on with the heel on the bottom. I don't know why, but that just seems to be a problem for them at least 1/2 the time. If something buttons in the back, they can't do that either, but not many of their things do. I do usually pick out the clothes for them, at least when we're going out. What they pick tends to "sort of match" at best.

 

Ours will be starting preschool in the fall so I thought it would make our morning schedule easier if they dressed themselves. We just started doing this about 2 weeks ago. They actually love doing it themselves. I just lay out their clothes, socks, and underwear on the floor for them. They undress themselves, put on their lotion, and change their clothes. What's really cute is when they put lotion on each other's backs. Surprisingly...they're pretty neat!

 

Just to clarify my earlier post (if this is what got you worrying about it) -- I still usually do dress them. I was just happy that they can dress themselves. But our usual routine is "Do you want to pick out your clothes or do you want me to do it?" Then, no matter who picks out the clothes, I usually have to carry the clothes to the living room, chase down the kids, pull them onto my lap (one at a time ) and yank their clothes on. If I tried to get them to do it independently when they didn't feel like doing it, it would take half an hour per kid.

 

QUOTE(littletwinstars @ Mar 30 2009, 04:28 PM) [snapback]1250899[/snapback]
Ours will be starting preschool in the fall so I thought it would make our morning schedule easier if they dressed themselves. We just started doing this about 2 weeks ago. They actually love doing it themselves. I just lay out their clothes, socks, and underwear on the floor for them. They undress themselves, put on their lotion, and change their clothes. What's really cute is when they put lotion on each other's backs. Surprisingly...they're pretty neat!




that is surprising! :laughing:

 

Yes. I really can't remember the last time I dressed them. They do need help with buttons or zippers, and rarely put their shoes on the right feet, and sometimes I have to straighten out the tights, but yes, they dress themselves. They dress in the morning and go put their pajamas on themselves. If we need to be out the door quickly, I do help. They almost never match, but I do at least try to get them to pick something appropriate for the day. Not really sure how it started, they just like to get themselves dressed.

 

Most days they dress themselves. Sometimes they are "difficult" and it is a challenge to get them to do anything. So on those days I pin them down and dress them myself! Hannah has been doing it for about a year, and Ben for about four or five months.

 

My DD, who is 4.5, does all her dressing on her own. She's been doing this for well over a year. She needs help with zippers on the back (for some dresses) and the sashes, but other than that, she does it 100% herself.

My boys are a little over 3 and one can dress/undress, but the other has very little interest in dressing/undressing himself. However, we usually dress both of them because it's easier. One is interested in picking his outfits so I offer a choice of two outfits.

 

Mine can but aren't always interested in doing so. I often challenge them to see how "quick" they can be with their pajamas and blanket sleepers. They require some help with starting a coat zipper, can't do some of the tougher snaps on jeans, and they often lose patience buttoning up if it's more than 3 buttons. They know that tags go in the back and to put the front of a shirt to their tummy before pulling it on so it won't be on backward. They have to ask me which way is the bottom with their socks sometimes but only if the socks don't have colored heels. We're working on getting shoes on the correct feet and while they can't tie their laces yet, they are learning to tie a simple knot.

I think they're doing great! I try to leverage their desire for independence but their desire to be naked often wins out. <_<

 

Mine can if I get them started. :blush: If I get the shirt going and lay the pants the way they are supposed to go. I seriously just haven't had the patience to allow it! I love that they don't fight me for what to wear! :blush:

 

My girls can undress but not dress yet. They can put their shoes on though

 

both my girls get dressed in the morning but to expedite matters, I will usually supervise, giving verbal reminders not to run around in the buff all day long.... c'mon people we need to get to the ____ today not ten years from now. only if they are completely distracted will I start to put the clothes on them. Focus children... focus! Clothes! On!

Rachel now ties her own shoes -- as of last week.

 

Yes, my two CAN. BUT... only if they want to. Most of the time they 'want' help. DD is the best at it.

 

They usually put their pj's on at night (depending on their moods) they can dress themselves in clothes for the day but usually want me to help with it. They do put on their shoes, I do have to help them with the right feet.

 

I am so guilty of this. I just took them to their yearly check up in Febrary and they asked me if they could dress themselves and I realized I don't know if they could, I guess but I never actually let them do it. I usually just dress them quickly myself. They love to undress though.

 

The boys have beed dressing them selves since right around 2 years of age. I would set their clothes out for them and then I would go about getting ready planning on getting them dressed after I was done and more often then not they were already dressed. Some days they would rather do something else but usually they are dressed and ready to leave before me shoes, hat and coat the whole 9 yards..

My mom has asked me in a few times why I make them get themselves dressed? I dont make they they like to do it and dont want me to help them.

 

Thanks for all of your replies - pretty much tells me I need to get things in gear and get them start doing it for themselves!!!

 

I've been making them dress themselves for quite some time. Sometimes it can take up to 20 minutes because they are so easily distracted.

Only things that button up the back do they need help on and this thread just gave me the idea of teaching them to button each other up instead of coming to me to do it. We'll try that tomorrow morning.

 

The girls have dressed themselves for over a year now. When they were three I started selecting clothes the night before. I'd let them have a choice between two shirts with the rule that Mommy picks the pants/shorts...and some days are "mommy picks" for special occasions. This made mornings much smoother.

I still help with jeans snaps but now it's become a routine. When I wake them, they get dressed. Some mornings they do drag a little and need a little encouragement, but usually they get ready pretty fast and then I help them brush their teeth and put up their hair.

They are breakfast eaters so I think that might be a large incentive to get moving quickly!

Sharon

 

both my 3 y/o can dress themselves.

that said, do they? not always. Dd usually does it herself but ds like me to at least be there and wants me to hold out his underwear and pants so he can step into them.

They both insist on picking out their own outfits or they throw a fit.

 

DD started dressing herself around age 3. DS on the other hand just now (age 4) has shown interest in dressing himself.

 

My girls will be 3 in July and for the past several months, they've been picking out their own clothes and getting themselves dressed.. not because I wanted them to, this was something they chose to do on their own.. I wish I was still dressing them!! Maybe then something they put on would match..