There are several issues which make the daily routine of dressing and undressing difficult for a child with autism or Asperger's syndrome. They may lack the fine motor skills needed to fasten buttons or zips, or the cognitive skills to remember in which order to put the clothes on.
Another issue with autistic children and clothing is that the child may have sensory issues, with an enhanced sensitivity to clothes that feel rough to the touch, or feel too tight or restrictive.
Selecting Appropriate Clothing For the Autistic Child
It is a good idea to choose clothes with as few fastenings as possible, such as T-shirts and trousers with an elasticated waist. For young children, it is a good idea to select items that have a picture on the front, as this will give them a visual prompt as to which is the right way around, for example, a T-shirt with a bold logo on the front, or underwear featuring popular TV characters.
Selecting items with velcro fastenings or large buttons and zips will help the child to develop the fine motor skills needed in order to master the art of fastening and unfastening clothes. As time progresses, items with smaller buttons can be used.
Choosing items made from soft fabrics will minimise problems related to sensory issues. Fleece and cotton items are especially suitable. Clothing should also be loose fitting and comfortable.
It can be a good idea to get the child to get used to undressing before moving on to dressing skills, as it is a lot easier to take clothes off than to put them on.
Strategies and Aids for Self Care Skills
A good strategy when teaching an autistic child how to get dressed is to allow plenty of time. It is not a good idea to try and master these skills when there is a limited time, for example when rushing to get ready for school in the morning. It would be more appropriate to practice in the evening before bed, when the child can begin by attempting to put on pyjamas, which are relatively easy to put on and have no fastenings to worry about.
A sticker chart can be a useful aid. A reward can be given every time the child masters a new skill, maybe mastering fastenings and buttons or putting on socks properly without help.
A visual timeline can also be very helpful to the autistic child, with clear pictures showing the correct order for putting on clothing. The clothing could be laid out on the floor in the sequence that it is put on.
If there are any garments in the home with large buttons, the parent can sit with the child during a quiet time and practice fastening and unfastening the buttons and make it into a game. An adult's cardigan would be ideal for this activity.
An occupational therapist may be able to suggest further aids. "Lacing cards" can help the child to learn the more advanced skills of tying shoelaces. "Social Stories" can also illustrate in a very simple way, the importance of getting dressed in the morning.
These simple and practical methods will help children on the autism spectrum to develop vital self-care skills.
Sources:
"Teaching Your Child To Get Dressed" Raisingchildren.net
"Dressing and Self Care Skills" Autismhelp.org
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Louise Jones - I have always enjoyed writing as a hobby, but started writing reviews online in February 2010 for Dooyoo, and later Ciao. In the beginning ...
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