Down Syndrome: Helping Your Child Dress Independently
Topic Overview
Children with
Down syndrome who do not have severe physical
disabilities can learn to dress themselves.
Teach your child how to dress himself or herself by taking extra
time to explain and practice.
- Explain what you are doing when you dress your
child. Let your child help you and allow extra time for getting
ready.
- Provide your child with time to practice dressing and
fastening buttons, snaps, and other devices on dolls and articles of clothing.
This practice improves your child's skills and helps him or her gain
confidence.
- Choose clothes that are easy to put on and take off,
easy to fasten, and comfortable, such as slip-on shoes with Velcro
closures.
- Incorporate the use of lip balm and protective clothing,
such as a hat and sunscreen when needed, in the daily routine of helping your
child learn to dress and groom. This will help prevent and manage dry skin and
other problems, such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), that people with Down
syndrome are prone to developing.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics |
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| Last Revised | September 22, 2011 |
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Last Revised:
September 22, 2011
