How can I help my daughter want to get dressed herself?

Question

My 3 1/2 year old daughter has no desire to get dressed on her own, or to lean how. Even the simple things she knows how to do, like pull up her pants, she tells me she "can't do it". How do I get her to want to be more self sufficient?

Answer 1

I bought an inexpensive timer and made it a game. I would lay my daughter's clothes out and set the timer. She got stickers or treats if she finished dressing before the timer went off. We kept a chart on her wall and she loved seeing the stickers pile up.

Answer 2

Bye a doll with different outfits (clothes for play time, bed time, for going out etc.) Play dress up. Even if you are not getting dressed for anything other than the fun of it she will learn how to button, zip, and tie. She will also realize getting dressed isn't a chore but can be fun too.

Answer 3

Something I used for my son when he was two was an Elmo video tape that shows Elmo putting on all sorts of different articles of clothing- from his coat to his shoes and pants. It really helped my son because he saw that Elmo did it on his own. From then on he never let me help with his clothes, and now, at 3 1/2 years old ties his own shoes. Good luck. I highly recommend that Elmo video!!

Answer 4

Express to her how it is important to be a "Big Girl" and that if she wants to go to school to learn with the other kids she needs to be a "Big girl" and get dressed herself.

Answer 5

Just baby her, she'll want to do everything on her own eventually. But the more you push the more she will resist, and this *shouldn't* be a battle.

Answer 6

Reward system would work nicely here...gold star for every time she does it...then 5 stars get her a treat...you get the idea.

Make it fun...and she will do it.

Answer 7

tell her she cant go anywhere until she gets dressed. after a whiel she will become bored with the house and want to go outside.