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8 Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Who Struggles to Get Dressed

Aug 19, 2025

Do you have a child with Developmental Coordination Disorder aka Dyspraxia that struggles to get dressed? Or, maybe your child doesn't have this diagnosis, but the struggle is still very REAL!!! Let's look at some ways to help your child become more independent while also reducing some of the morning meltdowns.

“Scaffolding” is a term (THAT I LOVE) that is borrowed from education and child development that refers to providing the right level of support to help a child succeed at a task they can’t yet do independently—and then gradually reducing that support as their skills improve. For parents of a child with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), scaffolding getting dressed means setting up the environment, task, and interactions in a way that meets their child right where they are without doing it for them.

What Scaffolding Dressing Looks Like for a Child with DCD

1. Breaking the Task into Steps

Dressing isn’t one skill—it’s many mini-steps:
• Choose clothes
• Orient items (front/back, inside out, etc.)
• Put on underwear → pants → shirt → socks → shoes
• Fasten buttons/zippers/snaps

Scaffolding tip:
Start by doing all the steps except the last one, and let your child finish. This is called backward chaining—and it builds confidence.

Example:
You help your child put both arms in the shirt, pull it over their head, and guide it down—but let them pull it down the last few inches. Praise them for finishing. Gradually shift more of the task to them as they gain comfort.

2. Laying Out Clothes in Order

Visual-spatial challenges are real with DCD. Your child may not intuitively know which item goes on first, which way to hold it, or what’s front or back.

Scaffolding tip:
Lay out clothes in the order they go on, with tags facing up, and left-right aligned. Use a low surface so your child can sit while dressing.

Example:
Lay out underwear, then pants, then shirt, then socks. Use a drawer divider or labeled bins for each type of clothing.

3. Providing Timed Check-Ins

Children with DCD often get distracted, overwhelmed, or fatigued halfway through dressing. You can help them stay on track without hovering or making them feel pressured (that would only lead to a meltdown).

Scaffolding tip:
Use a visual timer or check in at pre-agreed intervals to encourage independence but still support completion.

Example:
Say, “I’ll be back in two minutes—try to get your shirt on by then, and I’ll help with your socks if you need me.”

4. Using Visual Supports

Sequencing is tough, so use step-by-step picture guides or dressing charts posted in the bedroom or bathroom. You can simply print something out like specific pictures and laminate them. Let your child help you select the pictures. This gets them involved and allows them to have some autonomy.

Scaffolding tip:
Involve your child in making a visual routine. Real photos of them doing each step work best.

Example:
Create a laminated “Dressing Routine” chart with boxes to check off:
☐ Underwear
☐ Pants
☐ Shirt
☐ Socks
☐ Shoes

This also externalizes executive function tasks like initiation, sequencing, and memory.

5. Adapting the Environment

Your child with DCD may struggle more when standing, balancing, or moving around a cluttered space.

Scaffolding tip:
Provide a seat or bench, a mirror for visual feedback, and stable surfaces to lean on while dressing.

Example:
Keep a “dressing chair” in the bedroom. Put a mirror nearby so they can see how they’re aligning their clothes.

6. Simplifying the Clothing

Fine motor tasks like buttoning, zipping, and tying can be overwhelming and demoralizing.

Scaffolding tip:
Use clothing that matches your child’s current ability level:
• Elastic waistbands
• Velcro shoes
• Magnetic closures
• Loose neck openings

Example:
If your child can manage pants but not zippers, choose pull-on pants and let them master that before working on fasteners.

7. Modeling and Verbal Cueing

Some kids need to see dressing modeled or to have real-time cues about what to do next.

Scaffolding tip:
Dress alongside them while narrating your own actions. Avoid commands; use supportive language.

Example:
“I’m putting my right arm through the sleeve. Now I’m finding the hole for my other arm. There it is—now I’ll pull the shirt down.”

8. Offering Emotional Support and Encouragement

Frustration is common. When things go wrong, your child may melt down or want to give up.

Scaffolding tip:
Reframe mistakes as part of learning, and normalize needing help.

Example:
“You got your pants on all by yourself today—even if the tag is in front, that’s still a big win. Tomorrow we’ll try again.”

The Goal of Scaffolding

Your job isn’t to make your child independent overnight, but to:
• Build confidence
• Reduce frustration
• Keep motivation high
• Support partial independence while continuing skill-building

As your child improves, you gradually fade the scaffolding, just like removing training wheels when they’re ready. While this may seem like a lot of work for you as the parent, in the long run it is worth the time and effort! You will build your child's confidence and skill while reducing your child's frustration and sense of overwhelm. This will then lead to fewer meltdowns while your child is getting dressed! Be patient with your child and with yourself in the processes. You've got this!

Parenting Alongside You,

Dr. Emma and the Aparently Parenting Team

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8 Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Who Struggles to Get Dressed

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