One woman's journey through life as a mom.
Shoes on the Right Foot – Mark the side of each show facing inward to identify which shoe goes on which foot. Teach the child that when the marks face each other, the shoes are on properly.
Tied Shoelaces – Keep shoelaces tied by dampening them before tying.
Clothes on the Right Way – Mark the front of a shirt, dress, pants, or other item of clothing so your child can tell the front from back.
Keep Socks Together – When your child takes off his or her socks, make sure the child attaches the socks together with a rubber band, plastic clamp or laundry pin to avoid mismatched socks.
Don’t Lose Mittens – Put an end to lost single mittens by attaching the end of a long piece of yarn to each mitten and running the yarn through the inside of the coat and sleeves. Or just put each mitten in the corresponding side coat pocket.
Fisted Dressing – If your child won’t make a fist when you try to put his arm up a narrow sleeve, give him or her a small toy to hold on to so you can slip the sleeve over the grasped hand.
Easy Zipping – It will be easier for your child to pull up his or her jacket zipper if you attach something large to the zipper for them to grasp. Run soap or a lead pencil over a zipper to help prevent it from sticking.
Laundry Instruction – Having your child help you sort and fold the laundry is an excellent way to teach the different colors, clothing items and the concept of big and small.
Mirror Image – Babies and toddlers love to watch themselves in the mirror. If you are having a hard time dressing your child, try placing him or her in front of the mirror.
Picking Out Clothes – Have your toddler help pick out his or her clothing by giving 2 or 3 choices.
Slippery Shoes – If you are having trouble taking off your child’s shoes or boots, spray the insides with silicone. It will make the job much easier.
Clean Feet – Have your child wipe his or her feet on the door mat before coming inside, or better yet, have him take off his shoes before walking around the house.
Diaper Changes – If your child dislikes diaper changes, get him involved. Have him or her hold the diaper or wipes and “help” you.
Buttoning Up - Arranging buttons starting at the bottom is the most straightforward way to ensure that they end up being the same all the way up to the top. Show your toddler how to line up the bottom button with the bottom hole, even though you will be the one doing the buttoning.
Keeping a Hat on in Cold Weather - anyone have a good tip for this???
