How can I play “Wear Your Jacket” with my child?
By Down Syndrome Digital ·
Suggested age: 21–25 months
About this activity
Activity: Wear Your Jacket — a short, child-led play idea for children with Down syndrome aged 21–25 months. Follow your child’s cues and enjoy the activity at their pace.
These steps are invitations to play, not therapy or a milestone test. Choose a comfortable, stable position, supervise closely, and pause whenever your child needs a break.
What can this activity invite?
This activity may offer opportunities to notice:
• Participate in learning to put on a shirt and a jacket.
• Develop independence.
• Improve coordination of movements.
• Know the names of body parts.
• Use adult assistance when needed.
• Learn and remember names of clothing items.
• Use the word or gesture "mine".
What do I need for this activity?
A comfortable, stable place to play and the familiar items named in the steps. Choose materials made for your child’s age and ability; keep small parts, loose strings, plastic bags, and balloons away from babies and young children.
How do I play this activity?
1. Take a thick hoodie with a large zipper
Attach a ring or a wide tab to the zipper pull so it can be easily grasped. Squat down to the child’s level, get their attention: "Whose hoodie is this?" wait for the child’s response — a word or a gesture. "Yes, yours! Let’s put it on!" Hold the hoodie with the inside facing the child, opened wide.
2. Hold the hoodie behind the child’s back
Explain to the child, "Look, you need to put your hand in here." Bring the sleeve to the child’s hand; if needed, help them thread their hand into the sleeve. Ask the child, "Now let’s put the other hand in." Guide the child’s other hand into the hoodie.
3. Put the hoodie on the child, align the zipper
Offer the child to pull the ring or tab on the zipper pull and say, "Zip it up." Support the bottom of the zipper together with the child as they pull.
4. Try this together
When you take the hoodie off the child, use the reverse order of actions and the instruction "pull your hand out of the sleeve." Praise the child for their participation: "Good job, you helped take the hoodie off!
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need to finish every step?
No. Follow your child’s interest and stop whenever they need a break. There is no correct pace or required outcome.
What if my child is not interested today?
That is okay. Pause, try another activity, or return another day. Looking away or turning away is a cue to give your child space.
How long should we play?
There is no set duration. A short, comfortable moment is enough; stop if your child seems tired, distressed, or uncomfortable.
Is this therapy or a developmental assessment?
No. This is a play invitation, not therapy, a milestone target, or an assessment. It does not replace advice from your child’s clinicians.
Can I adapt this activity for my child?
Yes. Keep it comfortable and child-led. For questions about feeding, oral-motor skills, bath safety, positioning, or movement, use guidance from your child’s own care team.