Dressing Frames: Zipper
Materials: A Zipper Frame: 12” x 12” (30 cm x 30 cm); with two flaps of fabric attached to the frame which fasten with a zipper
Purposes:
Functional Independence
Visual Motor Coordination
Fine Motor Control
Manual Dexterity
Age: 3 ½ - 4
Preparation: None
Vocabulary:
Zipper: to unzip, to zip, pull, teeth, foot, groove, zipper stop
Presentation:
Unzip
Invite one child for the lesson on zipping.
Show the child the materials, how to pick up and carry the frame, return it to the shelf and allow the child to bring it to a table.
Place on table with the zipper pull at the top
Explain what you will do.
Grasp the left top of the fabric with the left hand
Grasp the pull with the right fingers
Zip down to the zipper stop until the fabric releases
Briefly open the fabric of the frame and close again
Zip
Explain what you will do.
Pinch the fabric to the left of the foot
Pinch the zipper pull and the zipper stop together
Place the foot into the groove and pull down
Move fingers to grasp the pull and pull up with the left fingers still pinching the left side zip to the top
Invite the child and encourage repetition.
Fade and observe.
Points of Interest:
Holding the stop and the pull together
Pulling the foot as far down as it will go in the groove
Following Exercises:
Encourage the child to practice on their own clothing or help a friend with their zipper.