Empower Your Child’s Independence with Dressing Frame: Velcro

As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be confident, independent individuals. One way to help foster this growth is to encourage your child’s independence in everyday tasks, such as getting dressed. But how can you make this process easier for both you and your child? This is where the Dressing Frame: Velcro comes in. This simple yet effective tool can help your child master the skill of dressing themselves, while also promoting their confidence and autonomy. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of the Dressing Frame: Velcro and how it can empower your child’s independence.

Dressing Frame: Velcro

Suitable Age: 2 1/2+

Materials: 

• The Velcro dressing frame

Direct Aim:

• To remove and fasten Velcro straps independently

Indirect Aim:

• Refining of the muscles in the hand
• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence
• Fine motor skills
• Order of sequence

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Once you have both been seated, begin with the top Velcro strap being sure to avoid blocking the visibility of the child. The Velcro straps are removed in two stages. First, lift the Velcro strap up releasing the Velcro, using one hand to hold the frame and the other to pull the Velcro, one at a time down the frame.
2. After the second strap has been lifted, invite the child to try it.
3. Once all straps have been lifted away from the fabric, begin the second stage. This stage consists of removing the straps through the opening.
4. After you have completed the first two, invite the child to continue.
5. Once the child has finished the remaining straps, separate the fabric in two. Do this by using two hands to lift one side open (grasping at the two corners of the fabric) and then moving onto the other side of the fabric. Be sure to open the sides carefully remembering the economy of movement (the last side open will be the first one closed). This will show the child that once the Velcro straps have been removed, the fabric will open easily.
6. Once the child has visualized the fabric opening, slowly bring the fabric back together again in the same format and allow the child to have a turn to open and close the fabric.

Point of interest:

• The colors of the dressing frame, the Velcro, the noise made when opening the Velcro, and being independent.

Control of Error: 

• Trying to pull the straps through the notch before lifting the tabs
• Difficulty being able to glide the Velcro through the notches
• Difficulty following the sequence
• The straps are not being superimposed correctly

>> Read more: Empower Your Child’s Independence with Dressing Frame: Zippers