Every child with autism is different and may have different activities that are challenging for them. One activity that can be challenging for children with autism is getting dressed by themselves, especially considering how stimulating the process can be. 

In this article, we discuss a few important tips on how to support your child in developing skills to dress themselves.

5 tips to support your child with autism in learning to dress independently

Some of the strategies you can use to help your child get dressed by themselves include: 

Celebrate the small steps

Children with autism can at times feel disappointed if they struggle with performing certain activities that their neurotypical peers find trivial. A good practice is to reward your child for every little bit of progress they make along the way. 

For example, you can give them their favorite treat once they button up their shirt within a certain amount of time or put on a skirt without any assistance. These positive reinforcers can help instill a sense of trust in your child, helping them be more comfortable with sharing any clothing-related issues with you.

Use aural and visual aids

Kids on the autism spectrum are often hypersensitive to audio and visual input. If you know the kind of reaction generated by your child to a specific stimulus, you can utilize it to help them learn a particular skill.

Take the case of colors. If your child has difficulty remembering to put on a 2-button shirt, you can use markers to color the buttons red and green, so they know which ones to close first. If you’d like, consult with your child’s therapist to develop unique aural and visual aids to help your child dress themselves.

Stick to a routine

An excellent way to help your children with autism is to define a schedule. A weekly or monthly plan can take the guesswork out of the equation. You can also use picture charts to help them understand the proper attire according to the situation, like weather.

Adjust clothing for motor skills challenges

Tying a knot or putting on a hairclip can be challenging for some children with autism, especially if they are younger. They may benefit from additional help from you as they develop their gross motor skills. Start them off with loose-fitting, easy-to-put-on clothes that are simpler to manage, like pull-on pants, and gradually upgrade to more complicated clothing, like jeans.

Do they have problems with buttons? Use velcro instead. If they can’t put on a tie, buy them a pre-tied one. Always remain accommodating and supportive.

Help them process sensory stimulus

Distress from external stimuli can be uncomfortable for many children with autism. It can mean that there are some textures and colors that they prefer and some that they don’t. During season changes, this can sometimes be a challenge when some children grow accustomed to specific garments that need to be retired as the weather changes.

You can help your child process sensory stimuli by helping them process sensory stimuli. For example, if you know that your child doesn’t like the color yellow, you can assist by helping them choose clothing with the “correct” color combination. Other factors like tags and seam lines also come into play and sensory stimuli. Many kids with autism don’t like tags and seams on their clothes, so it can be helpful to buy clothes that can be functional without those features. 

Tips you can apply for specific types of clothing

In addition to the suggestions above, you can follow certain procedures for specific types of clothes to avoid common challenges that children with autism may encounter. 

Tips for some of the most common clothes include:

• Shirts - Try to go for tagless and seamless shirts. Use loose-fitting shirts and the ones that look the same even when inside out. See if your child finds checkered shirts or simple shirts more comfortable, and support their preferences.
• Pants - Cargo pants can be problematic for children with autism because of sensory stimuli. Choose the pants with an elastic waist and have a regular fit. In place of zippers and buttons, you can use velcro or clip-on pins.
• Coats - Start with a more oversized, loose-fitting jacket for your child, one that doesn’t have a zipper. The “over-the-top flip-flop” method of putting on a coat is usually efficient for young children, but see what works for your child.
• Socks and shoes - Use socks with colored heels and store them near the shoes. If your child prefers long socks, teach them to bunch the socks before putting them on. In the case of shoes, you may want to look into laceless shoes that are easy to put on without the need to tie laces.
• Accessories - Your child may want to enhance their look with accessories, and as long as they are not a safety hazard, there is no issue with wearing them. Make sure that there are no sharp edges, and separate any cuff links or earrings with colored compartments.

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