Helping a Child Put On a Short-Sleeve T-Shirt

What Are You Noticing?

• The child puts both arms into one sleeve.
• The shirt is frequently backward.
• The child cannot locate the neck opening.
• The child becomes upset when the shirt covers the face.
• The child waits for an adult to complete the task.
• The child has trouble pulling the shirt over the head.
• The child loses balance while dressing.
• The child cannot gather the shirt.
• The child does not use both hands together.
• The child becomes frustrated before completing the task.

Skills Involved

• Bilateral coordination
• Body awareness
• Motor planning
• Shoulder movement
• Grasping
• Sequencing
• Visual-spatial awareness
• Tactile tolerance
• Balance
• Trunk stability
• Attention
• Following directions

Prepare for the Activity

• Sit in a stable chair.
• Place both feet on the floor or a supported surface.
• Place the shirt on the lap.
• Use a shirt with a large neck opening.
• Mark the back with a colored label.
• Use a shirt with a picture on the front.
• Reduce distracting sounds and objects.
• Provide calming proprioceptive input when appropriate.
• Practice when the child is calm.
• Begin with a loose-fitting shirt.

Step-by-Step Teaching Method

1. Find the bottom of the shirt.
2. Find the front picture or back label.
3. Place the shirt in the correct direction.
4. Gather the shirt using both hands.
5. Place the head through the neck opening.
6. Locate one sleeve.
7. Push one arm through.
8. Locate the second sleeve.
9. Push the second arm through.
10. Pull the shirt down.

Assistance Levels

• Independent
• Verbal cue
• Visual cue
• Gestural cue
• Tactile cue
• Minimal assistance
• Moderate assistance
• Maximum assistance
• Hand-over-hand assistance
• Total assistance

Make It Easier

• Use a larger shirt.
• Use a shirt with a wide neck.
• Practice one step at a time.
• Begin with the last step through backward chaining.
• Place the shirt in the correct position.
• Use a visual sequence.
• Use a mirror.
• Practice with the shirt resting on the lap.
• Reduce distractions.
• Provide verbal, visual, gestural, or physical assistance, fading it as the child becomes more successful.

Make It More Challenging

• Practice standing.
• Use a closer-fitting shirt.
• Practice a long-sleeve shirt.
• Have the child retrieve the shirt independently.
• Practice selecting appropriate clothing.
• Practice identifying front and back without a label.
• Practice in a real morning routine.
• Reduce verbal cues.
• Increase sequencing responsibility.

Track Progress

Example success measure: The child places both arms through the correct sleeves with no more than two verbal prompts in four of five attempts.

Other possible measures: number of steps completed independently, type of assistance required, number of verbal cues, time required, tolerance level, number of successful attempts, and ability to repeat the skill across settings.

Related Pages

• Long-sleeve shirts
• Button shirts
• Pulling up pants
• Socks
• Shoes
• Bilateral coordination activities
• Body-awareness activities
• Sequencing activities
• Proprioceptive preparation activities