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In the middle of winter time, it can seem like the classroom is filled with an overabundance of coats, gloves, hats, and scarves. Trying to keep winter wear all organized and then helping kids get everything on can be a daunting task for preschoolers yet alone preschool teachers (or parents). To help the children be more independent in putting coats on, we teach them this simple process so they can learn how to put on their own coat…
Start by inviting a child to place his or her coat in the middle of the floor with the zipper or opening of the coat facing up. Then stand at the head of the coat and look down…
Next, invite the child to place both hands inside the sleeves of the coat…
Now the child must lift the coat up and over his head while continuing to slide his hands down the sleeve of the coat…
Some of my students are able to put their coats on the traditional way and others can get one sleeve on then end up chasing their other sleeve around in circles. So we introduce this process to all the children then let them explore which way works best for them…
Once the children have a good grasp on getting coats on all by their selves, then we are ready to move onto how to zip up a zipper!
But I don’t have any tips for zipping up coats – just lots of patience, practice, and time for those fine motor skills to cooperate!
Available on Amazon
Links to Grow On
Fleece Mittens from Make It and Love It
Colorful Fine Motor Play by Teach Preschool
How to Zip a Jacket from Baby Center
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a trick for zippers. The zipper is an alligator with his mouth open. The other side is the food, you must put the food all the way into the alligator’s mouth. then he can swim up and give you a kiss. Be sure to lift your chin or he may give you a little “bite”
Ingenious!!
I’ve been teaching this to 3′s and 4′s for as long as I can remember and JUST THIS WEEK I had a parent tell me, “I don’t appreciate you teaching her to do that like she is stupid! I want her putting it on like a normal person!” Rarely am I left speechless…..
Oh, my! I don’t know what I would say! But the first thing that comes to mind is, “No, stupid would be having them all wait while I help each and everyone of them put the coat on like a “normal” person, and then by the time we are done, there is no time left for recess.”
What in the world did you say?
Heidi Butkus
Haha Heidi!!
Oh my goodness!! Now I’m speechless too:) wow!
I think you should invite her to your classroom and then stand back and watch (with a well-hidden smirk on your face) as she single -handedly helps each child put on their coat “like a normal person”. . .
That the way I taught it and my grandson’s school does the same thing. It’s so nice when children are independent – I call that a “win-win” situation!
Renee
Ingenious! I would never have thought of that! Thanks so much for posting it!
Heidi
I love the coat trick.
For zipping, I show my children slowly while I say this:
You put your pole in the hole, all the way down to the box, hold it down, don’t let it come out, then pull up.
The pole is the long end of the zipper which goes into the “handle?”. The box is the stopper of the zipper.
My children have used this to help them zip. I teach a 3/4 year old classroom. It definitely helps.
I teach them to put the hat in first and then their arms. I also had to teach them to put their hands into arms that are inside out and grab it to turn it back right side out.
Yes, we find that we have to teach the kids to make sure their arms are not inside-out! Sometimes, those sleeves can be a bear!
don’t you get some of the kids whapping each other in the face? lol. or is it just my kid that is rammy? They could accomplish the same thing by putting it down, sitting at the bottom of it, and leaning back their arms into it and then ‘shrugging’ into it, and putting on their boots and then standing up and zipping. What we do around here. (not a classroom)
Not so far:) But I am sure it could happen!! Sounds like another good plan for teaching independence! LOVE!
We use this method at school, too. We call it “dip and flip”. For the zipper, we tell them to put the baby in the bed, then pull the covers up.
I have used this technique successfully with 2-3 year olds for years! I also always said “one two, one two, up and over!” For some reason this helped them remember what to do!
Wow – I hadn’t heard of this saying. I think the one two helps them remember to think about their hands?
Exactly! For some reason it really works!
We like to say “tag at your toes, up and over your nose”
Our zipper is a spaceship and we put it down onto the launch pad and blast off
So many great ideas here to help children be successful.
Oh how cute!
My great-nephew showed me this trick a few years ago. I have older 4s and 5s who have pretty much mastered the coat thing, so I haven’t used it much. . . until this year. I have a little guy on the spectrum. The first time I asked him to put his coat on, his head ended up in the sleeve. I showed him this “trick” and that’s the last time I had to help him. He was so proud, he showed anyone who would pay attention. . . even the people at McDonalds. lol.
Ah, so sweet! What a great accomplishment!