We have been practicing our independent dressing skills for a few weeks now and we are starting to really see the progress!

Dressing can be a complex activity.

Children need to be able to master a number of skills such as co-ordination where a child needs to be able to create co-ordinated movements, using one arm and both arms. A child also needs the control of hand movement that require fine motor skills, such as fastening buttons. Motor skills where a child needs to be able to move his or her limbs and body in a full range of movements requiring muscle strength and flexibility in their joints.
Balance – being able to maintain their balance whilst changing posture/position both with eyes open and shut.
Perception – having an understanding of various sizes and shapes of buttons and also knowing the size of arm holes.
Stereognosis – being able to feel their way without relying on sight such as finding arm holes with a jumper over his or her head or fastening buttons behind at the back.
Body Schema – being able to tell right from left and the difference between arms and legs.

All very big words but helps us parents break down all the actions needed when getting dressed that can make it a bit tricky for our children.

We use most of these motor skills in our daily activities but have really been focusing on clothing and using our fine motor skills, which will help us become more independent and confident in our every day life. We were very persistent and did not give up, we tried fastening zips, buttons and shoe laces on our own clothing and trying our friends clothing, as you can see we have been very busy.

Hope you all keep practicing at home.

Look at us go!

A few of us in class struggled to get our coats until we mastered this magical trick!

Have a wonderful weekend, stay safe.