Montessori Sunday: Dressing Frames

 Snaps, zippers, buttons, velcro, buckles, laces, bows, safety pins, hooks and eyes, there's so many different ways to fasten clothing. The dressing frames in the Casa give children the opportunity to practice these different fasteners in a less awkward situation then on their own bodies. It's always easier to master a task when you can see what you're doing. This is the same reason it's pretty common to see children who are able to help their friends with a zipper, but still can't manage to do their own.

With all the dressing frames the Directress shows the child how to carry the frame with two hands to a table. Usually the snap frame is shown first, though buttons or a zipper may be introduced in the child is really interested. Using careful movements she slowly demonstrates how to undo the fastening. Carefully the two parts of the fabric are folded back, showing the table underneath. With the same careful and analyzed movements the teacher demonstrates how to fasten the pieces back together and invites the child to try. 

Sometimes with a more antsy individual the teacher may demonstrate only two or three fasteners before allowing them to have a turn, but part of what this lesson teaches is patience as well. Patiently waiting for ones turn for an activity is difficult but well worth learning.

The dressing frames are mainly used by the younger children in the class, though the lacing and bow tying frame aren't introduced until later. The bow tying frame is unique in that it may be broken down into two parts when introduced. The first part, the criss cross, can be learned pretty quickly, but the second part, tying the bows, takes a lot of perseverance. Because it's so difficult this is a presentation that we really want the child  motivated to learn before introducing it. Earlier this year we had one child who was very determined to learn how to tie a bow because he had new tie shoes. It only took about two weeks before he could do it independently. Throughout this time though he only took out the frame two or three times, all his other practice occurred using his outdoor shoes. It may have been easier to use the frame but his real intention was to be able to tie his shoes and that's what he focused on.