I Can Dress Myself

Children walk to and from the “closet” (a pile of big old clothes) to put on and take off items, following a story about getting ready to go out. It builds dressing independence, hand and foot coordination and balance.

How to play

1. Sitting in a circle, the teacher explains we’re dressing ourselves today and shows how to pop your head into a big T-shirt and your feet into thick socks (2 min).
2. Each child has a hoop: their bedroom. When the music plays, they walk to the closet in the middle, pick one item, go back to their hoop and put it on (3 min).
3. The weather changes in the story: “It’s cold!” and they fetch a hat or scarf; “It’s hot!” and they take one item off and fold it back into the closet (3 min).
4. Put on a sock standing up like a heron; if it’s tricky, lean on the wall or a friend (2 min).
5. Fashion walk: fully dressed, we stroll around the room as if going to the park, waving to the neighbors (2 min).
6. Take everything off piece by piece and put it all back in the closet together (2 min).

Rules

• I take one item at a time.
• If a friend gets stuck, I help with gentle hands, no pulling.
• When the music stops, I stay in my hoop.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child dresses sitting down while a buddy brings items from the closet.
• Autism: a picture strip shows the order of clothes, always starting with the same item.
• Less fine-motor control: use very loose items with no buttons; the adult starts the move and the child finishes it.

Learning goals

• Put on and take off clothes independently.
• Coordinate arms and legs while dressing.
• Keep balance on one foot.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Oversized adult clothes: 50
• Hoops: 25
• Music

Teacher tip

Ask families for very big old clothes: the baggier, the better. Skip laces and tiny zippers. Kids tend to rush the closet and pile up, so have them walk and go two at a time.

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