Teach a child to Zip a jacket:
Teach a child to Zip a jacket:Zipping a jacket can be a complicated task for a lot of kids. However, this is such an important life skill, so it’s worth spending some time to learn it. Here are a few tips and tricks to teaching this skill:
Practice on clothing that the child is not wearing first. However, place it in front of the child so that they are pulling the zipper up toward them, oriented the same as if they were wearing it.
Start with the easiest kind of zipper- one that is a larger, “chunkier” zipper.
DON’T practice zipping while you are trying to race out the door for the day. Pick a time of day that is more relaxed with plenty of time to practice.
Add a visual cue by placing a sticker or a piece of tape to the bottom of the jacket to show your child where to hold the fabric.
Adding a key ring or a cute charm to the zipper pull may help children with a weaker grasp be able to pull up the zipper easier.
Use of a contrasting color on the tip of the zipper on one side and around the zipper opening on the other side gives a visual cue for where to connect the 2 sides together.
Some children may need repeated hand over hand assistance to help them learn how to zip. Then assistance can be faded as they become more independent.
Sometimes teaching the last step first helps children experience success sooner and improves motivation. Have them zip it up while you hold it in place. Then have them hold the zipper in place and zip it up after you connect the 2 sides of the zipper. Finally, work on attaching the 2 sides of the zipper together.
Here is a link to a simple “how-to” zipper video:
Check out this link to a cute video using a train “story” to teach zipping:
