Toddler Milestones:Qiqi is Dressing Herself

Freedom and independence are big parts of growing up. And as your little one grows from a dependent baby into a confident toddler who's ready to take on the world, she will want as much control over life as she can possibly get. So naturally, by the time your child is 2 1/2 to 3 years old, she will start to express the desire to dress herself. And this is a big step toward your child's independence.

You may also find yourself having to chase your toddler to get her dressed, sometimes because she thinks it’s great fun and other times because she is too distracted or busy to stand still. How you react will probably depend on your mood (and it’s not easy to be patient when you’re running late), but getting angry doesn’t help. Try joining in the game and moving it in the direction you want – that is, towards getting the clothes on.She may refuse to wear certain things because she doesn’t like the colour or the fabric or just because… As long as she’s not going to freeze, let her wear what she wants.

Watching your toddler grow independent and learn to dress herself is as rewarding as it is challenging. When you use these strategies for guiding your child through getting dressed, you can help her learn this important skill without losing your patience.