By Karen Kaplan
Each morning or sometimes before bed at night, we automatically think about what we will wear. It seems to be a natural process of problem-solving that we enter without difficulty. But what about someone who has organizational challenges or limited social awareness? This is a crucial life skill that can greatly impact daily life. How can you learn to determine the best outfits for the day, event, or night?
Our responsibility is not to assume this skill will occur independently for everyone. We need to create intentional plans to help teach what to wear. We can model the behaviors. We can read books to our children about the concepts. We can identify videos on the topic and watch them together. For starters, we can create Social Stories Home (Carol Gray) on the topics.
It’s vital to teach how to dress for the weather—rainy weather, summer heat, or colder winter days. This is practical advice that can make a real difference in comfort and well-being. Yes, sometimes we wear raincoats. Other times, we might wear a warm sweater and, in the summer, shorter pants and soft T-shirts.
We must not just acknowledge but understand that there are rules about what to wear on school days. This understanding is not just important but crucial for a smooth and stress-free morning routine.
It’s important to explain the importance of clean clothes when attending school or a special event. Before putting something on, you might help check that all the buttons or zippers work. You might share that torn, ripped, or items with holes may mean the clothing item is no longer a good choice.
You may need to talk about what dressing up means. Perhaps your family will attend a religious event that requires a specific dress code. We might be invited to a wedding. How do we dress for that occasion? You might show pictures of past weddings and have them see the formal wear people wear.
It is a great idea to teach that it is time to move it out when clothing becomes too tight, too short, too big, or too small, even if you like the piece. Some families buy the same item of clothing in two sizes, one that works now and one that can grow into. I have known some moms who have bought the same style of shirt in the same color but in different sizes, and as the old one tarnishes, they replace it.
Some stories to read on clothing:
Amazon.com: I Can Wear Clothes: 9798369732199: Halliday, Gemma: Books
Fun With Clothing: Learning to Identify Clothing Items (Autism Skill Builders Book Series) - Kindle edition by Sankovich, Lena, Moncada, Vincent. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Amazon.com: Clothes...Really: 9798327699809: Canaty, Tamala: Books What We Wear When We Take Care: Finan, Sarah, Finan, Sarah: 9781536227703: Amazon.com: Books
Take Care of Your Clothes! (SURVIVAL SERIES FOR KIDS): Berry, Joy Wilt: 9780941510059: Amazon.com: Books
Weather Fashion Show (Julie Jupiter Book Club): Jupiter, Julie: 9798848029840: Amazon.com: Books
Some Videos on what to wear:
So, if someone with special needs has not yet acquired the skills to know what to wear, when, and why we wear different types of clothing, then just take some time and plan to help them learn.
Karen Kaplan, MS, is a native San Franciscan. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, in speech pathology and audiology. She minored in special education and obtained her speech therapist and special education credentials in California. Karen worked as a speech therapist for schools for 20 years before opening her own residential and education program for students with autism. She worked in credential programs at Sacramento State University as well as UC Davis and spent 20 years directing private schools for those with autism and similar learning challenges.
Karen founded a non-profit, Offerings, which helps cultures globally to understand those with developmental challenges. For seven years, she founded and facilitated an autism lecture series and resource fair in Northern California. Karen still facilitates an annual Autism Awesomeness event. She is currently consulting, helping families, schools, and centers for children, teens, and adults. Karen has authored three books: Reach Me Teach Me: A Public School Program for the Autistic Child; A Handbook for Teachers and Administrators, On the Yellow Brick Road: My Search for Home and Hope for the Child with Autism, and Typewriting to Heaven… and Back: Conversations with My Dad on Death, Afterlife and Living (which is not about autism but about having important conversations with those we love).
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