Montessori Inspired Dressing Boards are a wonderful way to teach toddlers and preschoolers how to work those buttons, snaps & zippers so they can learn to dress themselves! But store-bought versions can be expensive. With a couple of items you may already have you can make your own set for the home or classroom!
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How to Make Montessori Inspired Dressing Boards
These super easy DIY Montessori inspired dressing boards are a wonderful activity to include in a clothing or getting dressed tot school or preschool theme. It’s a great fine motor skills activity and a wonderful practical life activity for toddlers and preschoolers!
Supplies Needed:
- sewing hoops (my plastic sewing hoops were bought at a craft store, but wooden hoops will work just as well and look beautiful too!)
- old or not-in-use clothes (baby or toddler clothes would work best)
Super Simple Instructions:
My dressing boards seriously couldn’t be any easier to put together! All you have to do is separate the two hoops (each hoop comes with two rings, one inner and one outer) place your article of clothing on the inner hoop with your buttons (or snaps or zippers) centered. Then place the outer hoop on top and tighten with the screws! Easy!
If you want to make the dressing boards more permanent you can cut the excess cloth around the hoop with pinking shears so the material doesn’t fray. You can also hem the edges for a really durable and completed finish. But I left my clothing whole so I can use them down the road.
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Valerie @ Sorting Sprinkles says
April 8, 2013 at 8:17 amThis is actually real brilliant. I would never have thought of that. Well, then again, I don’t sew but still. Thanks for sharing.
JDaniel4's Mom says
April 8, 2013 at 8:35 amThis really is brilliant. My son would be overwhelmed doing a whole shirt.
Nicole Kavanaugh says
April 8, 2013 at 8:52 amThese are amazing!! I’ve been trying think of what I could use as a frame to make my own and these are so perfect!! Totally doing this!! And pinning it!
Samantha says
April 8, 2013 at 12:56 pmThanks Everyone! I’m so happy to see that you all like my idea! I’m glad I shared 🙂
The Monko says
April 24, 2013 at 3:10 amThus is a really cool idea. Proper Montessori dressing frames are so expensive. My problem is that my son has no interest in trying stuff like this. He’ll do it if there is a reason (so he got really good at undoing buttons when he realised he needed to learn so he could get in the bath quicker) but he doesn’t seem to edit it as an educational game. Sigh!
The Monko says
April 24, 2013 at 3:11 amOh dear, predictive text typos galore, you get the gist though
Samantha says
April 24, 2013 at 12:52 pmThanks! My son doesn’t have any interest in dressing himself yet either. Other than putting a hat on.
Brandy says
December 29, 2013 at 5:40 pmThank you for sharing this idea. I’ve been trying to come with a way to make some dressing boards. I think my daughter will really enjoy the fact that they are real clothes.
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
July 23, 2014 at 7:25 amWhat a great idea! Much less expensive than some of the store-bought dressing-boards!
Ashley Moore says
July 23, 2014 at 8:21 amThis is such an amazing idea! I will totally have to do this with the little one!
Jill says
July 23, 2014 at 6:29 pmThis is a very cute and innovative idea. Got one for shoe laces by chance?
Rain says
January 4, 2018 at 8:50 pmMaybe look for a dress/ shirt that has lacing up the back?
Kat @ World for Learning says
July 23, 2014 at 7:28 pmWhat a practical idea – love it!!!
Danielle says
October 7, 2015 at 4:08 pmI LOVE this idea. You’re brilliant!