I know most of this issue is my fault. I have always been in a hurry in the morings, and threw his clothes on him before taking him to school. He has been staying at home with daddy for past 4 weeks. We are trying to get him ready for 'big kid' school. He socializes well with kids, does great with his math, and is reading a little. BUT I can't get the kid to put his clothes on! He just flat out refuses. Honestly, he would rather run around naked. I have to chase him down constantly to put his pants or shorts back on after he goes to the potty! I lay his clothes out for him, and tell him it is time to get dressed and ask him nicely to put his clothes on. He flat out refuses. Does anyone have any advice on this one! TIA
My 3 year old is this way. She is fully capable of dressing herself but won't. She acts like she is helpless. I just tell her that she can choose to put her clothes on or she will lost a privledge like getting to watch tv or play with her toys, whatever. That's what I do with my 5 year old when he comes home from an outing and strips down to his underwear. It's all about choices in our home, it really works! Good luck!
Sounds to me like it's a power struggle. You want him to get dressed, and he knows this gets to you. If it were me, I'd drop out of the argument. Once they see it's not a battle, the battle will end. For example, my 3 year old wanted to wear his shirt backwards to my other son's t-ball game. We told him he wouldn't be allowed to the game until he turned his shirt around. So, when we got there. My husband took my other son up to his game. I left the 3 year old buckled in his seat, rolled the windows down and stood outside of the car watching the game. He screamed and screamed. I told him, calmly, "I'd love to take you up to the game, as soon as you turn your shirt around." This went on for about 15 min. and then, he stopped crying, and said he had his shirt right. So, I said "Great. Let's go to the game." This technique works a lot with my kids. I'll just say "We can go to ________ as soon as you're dressed." Or sometimes, I make it a race like "I bet you can't get dressed before me." Ready set go" and I run to my room and wait until he's in the hall saying he's ready and I rush out pretending I'm not done yet. Now, that being said, I still dress my 6 year old for kindergarten. He's half asleep and I don't want to have an argument before school. But I only do this for school. Don't do the other technique unless you have lots of time. The first few times may seem like forever, but they should catch on soon.
Sorry no advice. I don't know what it is with the guys. None of my son's friends (some now almost 4) will dress themselves. they couldn't care less and would run around naked half of them. The one girl in his group dresses herself (insists on it) but not what her mother picks out. You should see some of the color/pattern mixes she pulls together. All I can say is, I'm sure they'll dress themselves one day. I just keep telling myself he's not going to call home from college every morning asking me to dress him. Or at least, that's what I'm hoping but we'll see. ;)
Hello R.,
I have a feeling when he wants to go somewhere He will be dressed and ready to go. I sort of dressed my son until he was almost 6. I'd get him mostly dressed and then let him do the shirt. Don't stress too much over it. make a game of how fast he can get dressed. don't let him take all his clothes off when he goes potty (if you can, I know that might me sort of impossible if he's as skilled as Houdini =). by the way, are his undies getting too small? ask him if his clothes "itch". I ended up having switch to Dreft when my daughter was 4. I don't use any fabric softener on their clothes either nor bleach their socks anymore. Good luck! ~C.~
