Montessori Inspired Dressing Frames

These double-sided Montessori Inspired Dressing Frames are designed to help young children learn basic skills to dress themselves.  These exercises in Zippering, Buttoning, Tying, Velcro-ing, Snapping, and so much more allow children to advance in personal independence.  

This independence is of great value to children as they accomplish small feats such as dressing themselves.  In doing so it is important that they can at first see what they are doing directly in front of them, rather than looking down at a garment that they are wearing.  

These frames will engage them at home as well as traveling in the car and can be made with smaller or larger and more challenging parts depending on the age and aptitude of the child.

What You Need

• Lightweight Wooden Frames (rectangle or square)
• Fabric Squares or Actual Clothing Pieces 
• Hot Glue Gun
• Large bright-colored Zipper
• Shoelace
• Large buttons
• Large Velcro Squares
• Snaps

This three part image shows the process I used to turn a shirt with large buttons into a dressing frame.  

• First I cut out the area at the top of the garment including the top three buttons. 
•  I then placed the two sides of the cut out fabric pieces onto the frame. 
• Make sure the buttons are closed before gluing to the board.
• Folding the edges under to create a seam and prevent fraying, I hot glued the fabric to the frame.
• The flap with the button holes should move freely back and forth.  

The child may now practice buttoning and un-buttoning the three large buttons on the dressing frame. 

Kids can spend hours trying to learn how to tie their shoes.  This lace dressing frame can help them to see what they are doing on a large stable surface placed directly in front of them.

• Begin with a square of fabric large enough to cover your frame with at least an addition inch on all sides.
• Cut down the center of the square and sew the edges under to create a nice seam.
• Measure, mark, and sew matching button holes on each side of the center seam of fabric.
• Fold the fabric edges under and hot glue to the frame.
• Lace a bright shoelace through the button holes. 

Velcro is such a fun invention and often a precursor to shoelaces and other tied garments.

• Begin with a square of fabric as in the previous fame.
• Cut down the center and sew a seam on each side to prevent fraying.
• Measure, mark, and attach Velcro strips on each side of the square.  Be sure that the strips on the right side of the square are placed closer to the center and sewn all the way around to secure them.  The counterparts on the left panel should be sewn along the edge with the seam.
• Make sure the left panel can flap open and closed as the child experiments with the Velcro tabs. 

 Zippers can be a great source of frustration for children as they struggle to get coats zipped up or to open and close backpacks.  Mastering the art of zippers takes time, but this exercise can help.

• Begin with a square of fabric as in the two previous frames.
• Cut down the center of the square and sew a seam on each side.
• Attach a large bright-colored zipper to the center of the two pieces.
• Fold the edges under and hot glue to the frame.

There are countless other dressing frames that can be made including snaps, latches, seat belt clips, etc.  As well, you may either use a preexisting garment as I did in the first frame or create your own by attaching buttons, Velcro, zippers, or any other attachment.