Toddlers refuse to get dressed because they are at a stage of their development in which they are exploring their independence and are also asserting control over their environment.
And getting dressed is one of the few areas in which the toddler has a say in what happens to them, so they are often trying to assert their autonomy when refusing to get dressed.
Also some toddlers have sensory sensitivities to clothing textures or may resist changes in routine.
Some toddlers also resist getting dressed because they are seeking attention or prefer to continue playing instead of being interrupted.
And sometimes refusing to get dressed can be associated with a negative experience like being rushed or feeling uncomfortable which can cause a toddler to develop a resistance to the activity.
Or if the toddler is wanting to stay home with mom or dad, then this may be their way of voicing their displeasure.
To teach your toddler to take off pants start by using easy pants with elastic waistbands or pull on style pants which are easy to manage.
Avoid pants with buttons, zippers or tight fabric until your toddler learns the easy pants they are putting taking off and putting on.
Make time for the toddler to regularly practice putting on their pants and taking them off and don't rush the toddler and allow them time to learn.
You should also demonstrate to the toddler with slow and deliberate movements to show the toddler how to pull their pants up and down and exaggerate the movements to make the movements easier for the toddler to follow.
You can also make it fun by using songs, rhymes and games and role playing to make the learning process of taking off pants and putting on pants more enjoyable.
Toddlers can start putting on their own pants by around age 2 and pull them up and down although some toddlers may still require some help.
Most children become more proficient at getting themselves dressed in simple clothes such as t shirts and pants by age 3 years old and some toddlers have and show interest in dressing themselves earlier.
By 18 months to 24 months children often begin to cooperate with dressing and hold their arms out and legs out and may even attempt to take off simple items such as socks and shoes and by age 2 to 2.5 years old they may even try to pull their pants up and down, often with some help and they may begin unfastening some simple fasteners such as Velcro.
And by 2.5 to 3 years of age children often can pull on simple clothes, put on socks and shoes "although not always correctly" and may even attempt to zip or button large buttons.
By age 3 and older most toddlers and children are able to dress themselves in basic clothing with minimal help.
The age that kids should be able to get themselves dressed is by age 4 to 5 years old although some children start to learn to dress themselves by age 3 years old although they may require some help.
Some children even begin to dress themselves as early as 2 or 2 1/2 years old although they still often need help.
By age 5 to 6 a child should be able to dress themselves independently.
A 6 year old should be able to get dressed, tie their shoes, shower or bathe, put away toys or help with meal preparation, make sandwiches and cereal and simple foods and pack their lunch by themselves.
A 6 year old should also be able to use scissors, string beads, button and unbutton buttons and write their name with increasing legibility, skip, run, jump and balance with good coordination, enjoy running, skipping, jumping and other forms of physical play.
6 year olds should also begin reading books that are appropriate for their age, sound out words and write their name with increasing clarity and understand and count to 10 and also begin to grasp concepts such as time and cause and effect as well as start to solve problems independently and begin to understand cause and effect.
A 6 year old should also be able to express themselves through words, and also have an active curiosity for learning and asking questions as well as show an increasing independence from family and begin to value friendships and begin to understand their own feelings and emotions and can also express them effectively.
6 year olds should also be developing a sense of self esteem and begin to understand their own strengths and weakness and pick up toys, make their beds, clean their rooms and even assist with simple tasks such as preparing their own breakfast.
A 6 year old should be able to dress themselves without any assistance and should be able to take off and put on clothes including socks, pants, shirts and even shoes as many kids learn to dress themselves even by age 4 to 5 years old.
Even by age 5 the child should be able to dress themselves and even bathe themselves independently.
Most children by age 5 should be able to get themselves dressed independently, especially with some assistance.
Most 5 year olds have developed the required cognitive and motor skills to be able to manage putting on most clothing items, including pants, sweaters and t shirts without any assistance.
5 year olds should also be able to take off their clothes including socks and put them on although some 5 year olds may need some help with tying of shoes.
5 year olds should also be able to put on their own shoes, put dishes away, make simple foods such as sandwiches, cereals and snacks and can help with taking trash out, picking up toys and making their own bed although they may also need some help.
By age 3 most children can also take off their own coat and remove loose elastic waist pants.
By age 4 most children can undress themselves, including removing tops and pants although they may need some help with zippers or buttons.
And by age 5 most children are able to dress themselves without assistance including putting on the pants, shirts and sweaters and they should also be able to pull up zippers once they are started and fasten large buttons.
However kids develop at their own pace and some kids may take longer or shorter times to learn how to do certain things.