To undress, it's usually not a problem for young children, who even clumsy, by pulling, twisting, are able to get rid of clothes.
Sometimes also tearing the buttons, pinching closures and fabrics, ...
To dress, it's a different story!
Renunciation, crying, anger are often at the rendezvous.
They've often butoned it up wrong!
"Teacher Choice Award" in the USA, the ROMEO and JULIET activity aprons facilitate a quick learning of dressing and undressing abilities.
The pedagogical innovation is based not only on wearing the apron on oneself but, above all, on a step-by-step progression of dressing and undressing abilities: it is first on the floor or the table that the player tries to dress and undress the different layers, the apron being positioned inverted to allow the player to perform exactly the same gestures as when later it will be worn.
Undressing the apron on a table:
Dressing the apron on the table:
When the player wears the apron on one'self and is facing failure, the player removes the apron and puts it on the table or the floor in order to finish the game, thus limiting stress and frustration.
Dressing and undressing abilities are therefore acquired much more quickly while encouraging the child to manage own emotions and failures.
A zipper, three snaps, three buttons each marked by a primary color identical to the buttonhole, a star of Sheriff for Romeo, a pink heart for Juliet, tied to a ribbon, and sewn on a Velcro strip to be put in the pocket and a clip and button for the shorts or skirt make up the different layers to dress or undress.
A blue ribbon and a red ribbon make it possible to practice knotting.
This is the very last step: it's when the player knows how to dress and undress!
A teaching guide is available to suggest activities like for instance a story to be told when dressing or undressing.
Juliet also has a buttoning called "female", ie right on the left.
The origin of this feature dates to the 19th century, when to facilitate the work of the maids who dressed their mistresses, buttoning was reversed.
The men's buttoning remained unchanged, making it easier for the man to take out a weapon.
Some people now claim that it is more likely to take out the wallet, but, of course, only for those who are right-handed.
A unisex version DOMINIQUE (a French first name as well feminine as masculine), "merit award" in Great Britain (Practical Pre-school) is also available thus avoiding to make, for those who wish it, a sexual difference among young children.
In the Colemoi range, each one finds an answer to its legitimate beliefs.
Romeo:
Juliet:
Dominique:
No more the mirror effect of dolls or animals that supposedly claim to facilitate the learning of buttoning and which for decades disturb children and ruin parents.
Now it is possible how to learn to dress without stress and in a funny way; In the mood for a 21st century Maria Montessori spirit!
What do testers think about activity apron?
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