Desperate, one day, to get my active and resistant 3-year-old dressed, I came up with this game (and other modifications). Maybe it'll help someone else –certainly we enjoy it a lot!
Me: “Hey David, time to get dressed. Here's your hat!” I say, waving his underwear in the air.
David: “That's not my hat, that's my underwear!”
Me: “No way! Look — it's got holes for your ears!”
David: “NO!” (gales of laughter)
Me: “Yes, see, it fits perfectly” (putting the underwear on my son's head)
David: “No!” (more laughter), “it's for my BOTTOM!”
Me: “Okay, okay — try it.” (David starts to put it on in the right place, while I keep spouting off, and the more I play up being the know-it-all, the more he loves it) but you'll see that it doesn't fit. SEE, it doesn't fit. Brother! Imagine thinking that a hat is underwear. Oh…oh dear. (It's starting to be obvious that he was right)…Oh…Oh my…but if that is underwear, what's this?” (Said while holding up the shirt.)
David: “My SHIRT!”
Me: “No way! It's for wearing on your legs.”
David: “It's not for your legs, it's for your arms.”
Me: “My arms…but it doesn't fit my arms!” I say while attempting to wear his shirt. And on we go (having a former career as a clown has paid off!).
These games are fun for us both, and they get the job done!
— A mother in Winnipeg, Canada