The time when children start to change their clothes by themselves is a constant struggle for mothers. However, being able to dress by yourself also leads to self-confidence for children. You want to accompany your child as they change clothes without getting impatient or annoyed. Here, we will introduce the characteristics of clothes that are easy for children to change into and those that are not, to make things a little easier for mothers.
What are the key points for comfortable clothes for your first time?
Getting your child to change clothes by themselves for the first time can be a pain at first. Lower the hurdle of changing clothes by choosing clothes that are easier for your child to put on.
Especially at nursery schools and kindergartens, where there are no mothers to help, clothes that are easier to change into are preferred. First, let’s look at what types of clothes are easy for children to change into by themselves.
Easy to change tops
In my case, when I was helping my child practice getting dressed, I chose clothes like the ones shown below.
- Roomy around the neck
- No buttons
- No zipper
- Can be worn over the head (T-shirt type)
We recommend a top that can be easily slipped over the head. Buttons and zippers will be difficult for children who are just starting to learn to dress themselves. Tops with prints or ribbons on the front are also good so that it is easy to tell the front from the back. Children can start practicing zippers from around age 4.
If your child is not yet dressed on their own, help them put the top on and hold down the bottom so that it doesn’t fall off, and they will start to put it on by themselves. Although you want your child to look fashionable, choose tops that are “easiest to put on.”
Easy to change bottoms
When you first start practicing, you will find the following items easy to put on and take off:
- Elastic waist
- Shorts
- Short pants such as capri pants
- Stretch material
Bottoms must have elastic waists. Also, shorts are best, even though it’s harsh in winter. For long pants, choose ones made of stretchy material or fabric that stretches. Jeans and other fabrics that don’t stretch easily seem to be hard to wear.
As with tops, we recommend ones with prints or decorations on the stomach or buttocks to avoid confusing the front and back.
Easy to change socks
If you choose socks that are easy to put on and take off, you can go out without any hassle. I recommend the following:
- Short length
- Thin
- Something that stretches easily
Socks are difficult because they are far from the body. Choose short socks that are OK as long as they can fit the feet in. Knee-high socks that reach down to the calves may be difficult to put on.
What clothes are the most difficult to make?
Below are some clothes that children may find difficult to dress themselves in. Be careful when buying clothes for children who are still learning how to dress themselves.
Tops to watch out for
When it comes to tops, you should pay particular attention to the neckline. From experience, tops made of stiff material or with a narrow neckline are difficult to wear because you can’t get your head out. Tops with elastic or slits are best.
Buttons and zippers can also be difficult to wear during training, so be careful.
Bottoms to watch out for
Be careful with stiff materials, as they are difficult to put on. Be careful with things that have buttons or drawstrings at the waist. The thing my child had the most difficulty putting on was denim long pants. If you are using denim fabric, choose something that is made of stretch material and can stretch well.
Socks to watch out for
Looking at my own children, I think socks are one of the more difficult items for them to put on. Long socks are even more difficult, so try putting on short socks first.
Changing clothes is a big step towards growth
It’s easy to get distracted by cute children’s clothes, but when it comes to your child’s wellbeing, functional clothes are the best! Being able to get your child dressed by themselves also boosts their self-confidence.
Getting them dressed can be a struggle, especially during the “no” stage. Make sure you stock a lot of clothes that are easy to put on and take off, so they can choose what clothes to wear and put them on by themselves.
Also, if you don’t have time, they’ll panic, so make sure you give them plenty of time to get ready in the morning when they start to get dressed by themselves!
