PL T2.06Pushing Pants Down and Pulling Them Up
The toddler learns to put their thumbs in the waistband, push pants down to the knees, and pull them up again, back first and then front.
Safety
- Ask families to send pants without belts, overalls, or tight fastenings during toilet learning so the child can manage them.
Presentation
- 1
In the bathroom, stand beside the child. Say: 'I will show you how to push your pants down.'
- 2
Put your thumbs inside the waistband at your sides (over your own pants) and show the pushing motion slowly.
- 3
Invite the child to put their thumbs inside their waistband at the sides. Guide their thumbs with yours if needed.
- 4
Say: 'Push down.' Wait while the child pushes the pants to their knees.
- 5
To pull up, show the child how to hold the waistband at the back with both hands and pull up over the bottom first. Pulling over the bottom is the point of interest.
- 6
Then invite them to move their hands to the front and pull up to the waist.
- 7
Run your hand around the waistband with them to find any part still folded or low, and let them fix it.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Push down and pull up underwear and pants together
- Take off pants while sitting and put them on while sitting, one leg at a time
- Dress in pants on their own after a change of clothes
Control of error
Pants not pulled up at the back stay bunched under the bottom; the child feels this and the adult can point to it.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Pushes pants to the knees without help
- Pulls pants up over the bottom and to the waist
- Does both at the potty without being reminded