Dressing Basket (Photo from Counting Coconuts)
If your preschooler needs help with self-care skills, this is a good time for your child to work on dressing skills. Montessori dressing frames aren’t the most practical solution for home use, though. A better idea would be to create a dressing basket like the one developed by Counting Coconuts.
Mari-Ann of Counting Coconuts found that dressing frames were ignored by her son. I found the same problem when I had a Montessori school and with my own children. Even though I had the lovely Nienhuis Montessori dressing frames and stand (and kept them for my own children to use as preschoolers), dressing frames were always the least popular practical life activity in my school and homeschool. I just don’t think buying or making dressing frames is a practical option for home use.
Mari-Ann found a dressing basket containing articles of clothing to be more popular with her son than dressing frames – and obviously more practical economically. Be sure to check out her post on creating a dressing basket.
For ideas on how to present practical life activities, read How to Help Your Preschooler Help Himself. For instructions on how to present a particular dressing skill, such as tying a bow, you can easily adapt the dressing frame directions from Info Montessori or Montessori World for use with the dressing basket.
I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
This is a wonderful idea. I wish I would have thought of that when my youngest was a toddler… she would get dressed/undressed all day long…. keeping up with laundry was crazy!
Thanks for your comment, Kyle – I love your story! I think Mari-Ann at Counting Coconuts came up with the perfect solution for teaching dressing skills at home!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Teach Your Child Table Manners for Holiday Gatherings
That is a great idea. I have a dress up center for my kids- yet I deliberately made the dress ups “easy” to pull off and on- no snaps, ties, etc. I didn’t think about all of the skills I was missing by not including those things in their dress ups.
Jackie recently posted..The Gift of Reading
Thanks, Jackie – a dress up center is a great idea for the home. And with a dressing basket, you can easily isolate all the skills for your kids to use any dress up clothes.
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Teach Your Child Table Manners for Holiday Gatherings
Another awesome idea! I know this would really help my 4 year old. I will have to give it a shot now. I have the perfect basket too! A basket that was given to us with goodies inside of it when I was pregnant with her!
Thanks for joining in the HHH Deb!
Joy recently posted..Hip Homeschool Hop
It’s great that you have the perfect basket for the activity, Joy! I really think Counting Coconuts’ dressing basket is the perfect way to help preschoolers with dressing skills at home. Have a wonderful 2011!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Happy Holidays!
You’re so kind to share my post, Deb, and even more kind to continue to say good things about it in your comments. Thanks very much for both. *hugs* I’m thrilled to know people are finding the idea useful!
Counting Coconuts recently posted..Instrument Nomenclature Cards
You’re welcome, Mari-Ann! Your dressing basket is an awesome idea! I hope you and your family have an incredible 2011! (((hugs)))
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Starting and Nurturing New Year’s Traditions
Fantastic idea–maybe I should do this for my “big kids” as well! (They seem to choose shorts on freezing days and dress clothes on casual days, etc.)
Glad to find this blog and Counting Coconuts–both are full of very useful info!
Sparklee recently posted..Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas
Thanks for your comment! I love to see kids’ clothing choices.
I’m so happy you found my blog and Counting Coconuts as well! Have a wonderful New Year!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Starting and Nurturing New Year’s Traditions
I’m studying to be a special education teacher & in doing research, I think a lot of the Montessori way of teaching/learning will work better for these students. Of course, I still have 3 semesters to go, so I don’t know everything yet
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Thanks for your comment, Laura! I think Montessori education has much to offer in the field of special education – especially since that’s where Montessori education originated! Have a truly Happy New Year!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Starting and Nurturing New Year’s Traditions