Ah, the often-overlooked challenge of teaching kids the art of sock-wearing. For many parents, it might seem like a tiny blip on the radar of life skills. But for others, it’s a tiny mountain to climb, especially when rushing out the door in the morning. That’s why we’ve distilled this seemingly simple task into bite-sized, actionable steps for caregivers. And for those visual learners out there, our Goal Mine class video will be a boon. Encourage your young ones to give it a watch and master this skill, one sock at a time.
Table of Contents
| Step Number | Step Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scrunch Up Socks | Prep the sock by holding it at the cuff and scrunching it down to the toe, forming a mini sock accordion. |
| 2 | Foot In, Sock Up | Insert the toes first into the sock and then pull the sock upwards, ensuring it isn’t twisted. |
| 3 | Heels and Toes | Adjust the sock so the heel section sits on the heel, and make sure toes aren’t cramped at the tip. |
Read more: Toe Walking and Autism
Step 1: Scrunch Up Socks
Above all, before you get those feet involved, it’s essential to prep the sock. Here’s how:
- Getting The Grip: Ask your kids to hold the sock at the cuff. Indeed, this part can be tricky for those tiny fingers, but they’ll get the hang of it with practice.
- The Perfect Scrunch: Tell them to slowly scrunch the sock down to the toe. It’s like making a mini sock accordion. And it prepares the sock for easy entry!
- For example, remember how they mastered rolling up their drawings or papers? This is similar, only a bit more squishy.
Read more: Teaching Your Kid How to Fold Socks and Underwear
Step 2: Foot In, Sock Up
Now that the sock’s ready, it’s showtime for those eager feet.
- Positioning is Key: Instruct them to put their toes in first. This is the entry point. Like finding the start of a puzzle or entering a fun house—feet first!
- Sock Ascend: Once the toes are tucked in, ask them to slowly pull the sock upwards. It should unroll naturally, fitting snugly around the foot.
- Above all, ensure that the sock isn’t twisted. Twisted socks can be uncomfortable, and we don’t want that, do we? Most importantly, if they get frustrated, remind them that all skills take time. And socks? They’re no different!
Recommended Kid’s Tablet for Life Skills:
Pro tip— Goally’s Kid’s Tablet has one of the largest libraries of skill-building videos (like “How to Share” and “What to do when you’re lost”) on Goally’s TV App.👇
Step 3: Heels and Toes
The final step! It’s all about making sure everything’s in the right place.
- Finding the Heel: Now, for instance, if they’ve managed to get the sock up, but the heel section is on their arch, they’ve got a tiny adjustment to make. Ask them to pull the sock off halfway and aim to get the heel part to sit snugly on their heel.
- Toe Check: Ensure their toes aren’t cramped at the tip. A sock that’s too short can be just as uncomfortable as one that’s twisted.
- But remember, like any new skill, it takes time. And after that, with repetition, your kids will be pulling on socks like pros.
Read more: Why Do Kids Walk on Their Toes?
To sum up, teaching kids to wear socks can be more of an adventure than a chore. It’s an essential life skill, albeit small, but with patience and practice, your kids will get there. Most importantly, remember to celebrate the small victories. Moreover, if you loved step #1 in our embedded YouTube video and are keen to unlock the complete lesson, consider getting Goally’s dedicated Tablet. It’s packed with insights and interactive lessons that make learning everyday skills engaging and fun!
Goally
We help parents teach their kids life skills, like doing bedtime and morning independently. Backed by science, we incorporate evidence-based practices and expert-informed designs in all of our apps and content.
