About what age can children get themselves dressed?

[Hillbeans]

Does anyone have an idea what is the age where children should be able to dress themselves? Not talking about complicated buttons or things of that nature, but just generally speaking, what's the age where they can actually get a whole outfit on their body with the tags in the right spots and socks on?

I'm sure some children can do it around 3, but i'm just curious.

 

[Aidensmom]

My son could get dressed by himself for the most part at age 3. He still has a little trouble getting his socks on the right way sometimes, though, and he is 4 now.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Depends on the child. My dd could do it at 3 1/2, but my son is 4 and still needs help. Heck, my dh is 30 and still needs help.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Somewhere around 3 or 4 sounds about right. DS has been dressing himself (most days) since around 3 or 3 1/2. Some days, he even doesn't fight us.

 

[Hillbeans]

The reason I ask is that my son (almost 5) really still can't get himself dressed with all the tags in the right spots. I'm trying to work at it, but now I see I think I let it go on too long and he's gotten lazy about it (but he may just pretending not to know how so i'll do it correctly so I end up doing it for him). He also has a very large head and getting shirts down over his head can be a challenge for me, let alone him.

Looks like i'll be working on this a little harder with DS. I was just wondering if I was the only one in this boat.

 

[numbercruncher]

My 2 1/2 year old can basically dress herself. She still has problems with the socks, otherwise she demands to do it by herself every morning.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

My five year old twins still have problems with tags and some buttons too. I think my oldest mastered it around 6.

 

[CamColt]

I forget for my oldest, but my youngest I would say around 4.

Dont worry that he cant do it now at 5...every kid is different. I'm sure what you said might have a part in it too. My oldest has always been the type if he cant do it, he wont try and just wants me to do it for him, so I hear I cant do it or I dont get it (homework) a lot.

 

[sleepyone]

My first dd(8) could pull on clothes at 2 but, she still fusses with buttons being too small, to big, the zipper is too hard, etc...*mumble, gripe*

My dd(3) could do it all at 2.5 ("by my own")because she wanted to be big like sister. *hooray*

Waiting on ds2 to learn.

ETA: Liam is a cutie! I love his nose....*sigh* they grow up too fast.

 

[mickeyboat]

My girls could probably do it well at 3 and 4. I still help the process along most mornings, but they can do it themselves just fine.

Denae

 

[Maude4Disney]

DS will be 5 in a couple of months... and although I know he can get himself dressed.... he won't. He's very stubborn and some days we just don't have time to wait him out. Plus he'd rather run around in his undies than have clothes on anyway.

 

[SeeDisney]

I would assume that girls dress themselves earlier. I believe my DD was around 2 1/3 and my 3 year old son now started his independence I say right before 3.

 

[punkin]

My DD 7 still cannot get her tights or boots on by herself. Everything else, she could do since about 4.5. However, just because she could do it does not mean she did do it. Even now, if I want her to get to school on time, I have to help her dress.

 

[ReneeA]

DS just turned 4, DD was 2 in June. She does very well dressing herself...needs help with button & getting tags right. DS will not dress himself. Lays on the floor like a big heap . I get him started on things, and make him finish.

Most of the time, I get myself ready, DD gets herself ready for the most part, and we threaten to leave DS if he doesn't make an attempt at least. It drives me crazy...


ReneeA

 

[HappyMommy2]

Mine could both do simple self-dressing at 2 1/2 or 3 (except for socks--DS 5 finally can get his socks on right and DS 3 still needs help with that). DS 5 started to be able to do the more complex tasks (buttons, zippers, snaps, etc.) at about 4 1/2 and recently learned how to tie shoes.

 

[justhat]

Madison is 21 months and 'dresses' herself every morning, but can't get tags in the right spot on her own. I just lay it out in the 'right' way, so that when she puts stuff on the tags are in the right place. She does shirts, pants, socks, shoes, and her coat, hat, and mittens but I have to help if the shirts have buttons or snaps in the back (as most things do in her size). She really doesn't allow any help so we just get up earlier so she has time to do things herself. I wouldn't have necessarily thought to do this on my own at this age, but her school is very pro-independence and they encouraged it (taught her how to do the coat flip) and sort of have a dress code, kids are only supposed to wear things they can do themselves-no onesies, supertight clothing, pants with snaps in the crotch, etc. It's really helped and now she insists on doing everything herself. What I find works is that when she says "mama do" or "mama help me" I'll come watch her and tell her what to do next and then she usually finishes it on her own. Oh, and she has a pretty big head too so I know what you mean about having trouble fitting shirts over it. Usually I have to help if there are no snaps or buttons, otherwise she gets frustrated and cries cause she thinks she's stuck in the shirt.

Maybe a way to help him with the tags, at least for shirts, is to teach him to put them on using the 'coat flip'. Seems like it would work the same.

 

[Beth76]

My son was around three for getting his clothes on. There was then a progression of buttons, snaps and zippers. He can pretty much do it all now at 4-1/2. I do sometimes have to help with socks and shoes, but that's usually because we are in a hurry and he's getting anal about having them on perfectly.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Then they get to be teens and you long for the days when you used to dress them. At least they had a chance to match, wore clothes that fit, etc.

 

[PaulaSue]

I think my older 2 were close to 4 until they could do it well.

 

[scubamouse]

it depends on the kid. aw:

DS5 would spend all day naked if we let and he sure doesn't care about getting dressed. he can get dressed by himself but he's not interested in doing it. we need to push but he can dress himself

DD4 has been dressing herself for a year - mostly she loves picking out outfits. she can get dressed quickly too