Get Dressed 101 : Occupational Therapy Tips for Dressing
CHILDREN LEARN SKILLS AT VARYING PACES. SOME SKILLS, INCLUDING GETTING DRESSED, TEND TO BE LEARNED IN A PREDICTABLE PROGRESSION.
By Lacy WRIGHT, OTD, OTR/L, BCP and Sarah ALLEN, MS, OTR/L, ATP, SCSS
In life, we are always learning, growing and gaining independence. Daily activities are important skills to master, including bathing, using the toilet, getting dressed, and eating. Being able to dress oneself creates independence for that person and the family, as it will alleviate the time and responsibility of ensuring that the person gets dressed. Dressing oneself can also be a form of expression and can increase their independence with using the bathroom. Individuals on the autism spectrum may have additional challenges learning to get dressed. This article discusses the developmental progression of dressing, the impact of sensory differences with clothing, occupational therapy tips for dressing, and clothing adaptations to support executive functioning or fine motor skills.