We Can Dress Ourselves!Tnwiwk independence series -7

(Funded by UNICEF)

National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped(Ministry of Welfare, Govt. of India)

Manovikas Nagar, Secunderabad 500 009

Copyright National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, 1990All rights reserved.

Artist : K. Nageswar RaoPrinted by GA Graphics, Hyd -4, Ph :312202 & 226681.

Appearance is important for socialacceptance. How a pers appears,depends on his ability to dress.

A child who is slow in development,may be slow in learning dressingskills too.

Doing it yourself may be easierthan training him in it I BUT

IL

further.

Training in dressing....

* makes the child moreindependent in daily living.

* gives the child a sense ofsatisfaction and pride.

* reduces the workload of thecaretaker.

([GUIDELINJ

Teach dressing and undressingat approprIat times....

[ Teach the child to move his hands and legs as per your directions.

Get the child's cooperation, whiledressing

by holding the arm hole/leg holeof the garment dose to the child's

body, and encouraging her to pushher hand/leg through the hole.

Undressing is easier than dressing

Unbuttoning is easier than buttbning

Learning proceeds from simple to complex

While teaching removing or wearing clothes; manipulate the fasteners yourself.

Fasteners are the devices used to close openings of thegarment and hold the garment in position, when worn.

Common types of fasteners are:

(a) Hooks

'U,111/

(d) Zip

(b) shirt buttons (C) press buttons

C I

(e) elastic (f) string

I.

Provision of a full length mirror allows the child to notice the correctposition of fasteners.

Divide each task into small steps.

Examples:-

Unbuttoning

1. Pushes button last one fourth ofthe way through hole.

2. Pushes button last one half of theway through hole.

3. Pushes button last three fourths ofthe way through hole.

4. Tips button toward hole.

5. Grasps edge of shirt with thumband index finger of one hand.

6. Grasps button with thumb andindex finger of other hand.

7. Pushes button through\hole.

Buttoning1. Pushes button last ohe halt way

through hole.

Inserts button in button

Grasps edge of shirt.

Grasps button with thumb andindex finger.

2.

3.

4.

hole.

Allow the child to do as much as possible by himself, though you could dresshim much more quickly.

Ideas to make 'dressing' easy .

elasticwaistbands.

Large buttons

Initially, sew small appliques on the dress,so that the child differentiates front fromback and inside from outside, of a garment.

7KN /'f'1'\\C

Select the clothes to suit the occasion J

Famillarise ths child withd!fferent clothes that are tobe worn during differentoccasions.

Weddings/parties - best clothes.

Gardening - old clothes.

Summer- thin clothes.

Winter warm clothes.

Follow three steps in training

Ill Step -Withdraw both physicalassistance and verbal directions.

I Step -Give physical

II Step -

Praising the child for every goodattempt is the key to success oftraining.

Contributors

Jayanthi Narayan Jandhyala ShobhaMS. (SpEd) Ph. D., D.S.Ed. M.Sc. (Child Devt)Project Coordinator Research Assistant

Project Advisory CommitteeDr. V. Kumarlah Dr. D.K. MenonAssociate Professor (CI. Psy.) Director, NIMHNIMHANS, BangaloreMs. V. Vimala Dr. 1. Madhavan,Vice Principal Asst.Prot. of Psychiatry, NIMHBalavihar Training School, MadrasProf. K.C. Panda Mr. T. A. Subba RaoPrincipal Lect. in Speech PathologyRegional College of Education, & Audiology, NIMHBhubaneswar.Dr. N.K. Jangira Mrs. Reeta PeshawarlaProfessor (Special Education) Lect. in Cl. Psychology, NIMHNCERT, New DelhiMs. Girija DeviAsst. Communication Devt. OfficerUNICEF, Hyderabad

Othertitles In the series

Enhancing Gross Motor SkillsFine Motor SkillsFeeding on their ownToilet TrainingTeaching Brushing SkillsTrain Your Child to BatheTeaching Grooming SkillsTeaching Basic Social Skills