Believe it or not, there are some real benefits to using children’s hangers over adult hangers in a nursery or kid’s closet. I’m not only talking about protecting clothing or making space, but also about teaching responsibility and fostering childhood development. Child or infant hangers can be a motivational tool for teaching certain behaviors while helping to develop communication, cognitive, fine motor and gross motor skills.
The first benefit of an infant hanger is the size. It fits right through the neck of delicate baby clothing without stretching it out of shape. The sides are small enough not to stretch out the shoulders and pucker fabric when you want it to lay flat. More heirloom children’s clothes are ruined by hanging them on adult hangers than you may realize.
These are the more obvious reasons to choose infant hangers over adult hangers. But, there are other things that you have not considered. You can use small hangers to teach your child responsibility. They will be excited to use hangers that are made especially for them. You can even get beaded hangers, character hangers, or monogrammed wooden hangers to make them more special. Talk about how the hangers are made especially for them. Spend some quality time together doing laundry and learning how to hang clothing.
Using their fingers to manipulate clothes on to the hangers will help develop strength in the small muscles of their hands. This improves handwriting and a multitude of other fine motor skills. Kids’ slimline hangers can be purchased in a lot of different colors. They have matching clips and cascading hooks that will further the fine motor benefit and make the task more fun.
Place a small step ladder in the closet so that you child can climb up to hang each article of clothing. Only do this if your child is capable, of course, and help them balance if they need it. Climbing up and down for each article of clothing will teach your child how to balance in a variety of positions. Carrying the hanger with the clothing on it will encourage them to use the large muscles in their legs and torso, instead of steadying themselves with their hands as they climb. This activity helps to develop gross motor skills necessary for climbing, playing, dancing, running and swimming.
When your child hangs an article of clothing, make a big deal about how big and responsible the child is. Clap your hands, make dramatically happy expressions, congratulate them profusely and keep your eyes fixed on theirs. This will give your child a great sense of accomplishment. It builds self-esteem, encourages them to be responsible and to love making you happy. This teaching technique has a wide range of benefits that will make future tasks a snap.
Giving your child the attention and praise that they deserve sometimes needs to be worked into your day. Making laundry time a learning time by using
infant hangers is only one example of how you can teach your child to be a confident, happy adult.
About the Author: Kurt Adams is on the staff of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of
baby hangers. The right
infant hangers keep baby clothers organized and wooden baby hangers are great for retail stores. For more information, please visit www.onlykidshangers.com.
