Fastening buttons and zips

Introduction

We have written this information to help children learn how to fasten buttons and zips.

Bobby’s Top Tips

• The environment must be appropriate for your child to be able to learn new skills.  Ensure there are not any distractions in the environment such as the TV, tablet or radio.

• Ensure your child has enough time to practise. Try to avoid practising on mornings before school if you are pushed for time. The best time to practise maybe on an evening or weekends, whenever you have plenty of time.

• Provide lots of praise and encouragement, even for small efforts.

• Help your child by putting your hand over theirs to help guide them as to what they should do.  

• Do the task alongside your child as they are doing it. 

• Talk your child through each stage of the process.

• Ensure that your child is sitting in a stable position, preferably on a chair with their feet supported when fastening or unfastening zips or buttons (off the body).

• Give your child plenty of time, so they do not feel rushed.

Fastening buttons or zips

• Follow a consistent sequence and technique when fastening buttons or zips.

• Encourage your child to use pincer grip (thumb and index finger) to grip when doing buttons or zips rather than using all of their fingers.

• Buttonholes and zips on new clothes are often tight and may need stretching by pushing the button through and back repeatedly.

• Support your child to practise off the body on a table in front them. Once they are able to fasten buttons and zips off the body, progress on to fastening items on the body.

• Start with larger buttons and zips as they are easier to grasp. Once they can fasten large buttons and zips, start to progress onto slightly smaller items.

• Make sure your child is sitting down to ensure they can fully focus on the task at hand.

• Velcro can be used instead of buttons, zips or laces as an alternative if these components are too difficult to fasten.

Activity ideas to help develop fastening skills in play

• Weight bearing activities such as walking, running, trampolining, swimming, climbing, accessing outdoor play areas, tug of war, riding a bike.

• Moulding with clay, blue tack, play doh to encourage use of the pincer grip.

• Try posting coins into a piggy bank.

• Once your child is confident posting coins, you can then practice using for example dressing cubes with buttons (see below) or a button toy.

• Practise with loose buttons (not stitched down), post through a buttonhole and collect from the other side.

• Games such as Connect Four or Operation.

• Practise by fastening the zip on a teddy bear or doll.

Should you require additional support please consider a referral to our team:

Community Children’s Occupational Therapy
Level 3, Regent Point, Regent Farm Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3HD

Tel no:  0191 282 3452

Information produced by the Community Children’s Occupational Therapy Service
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust