"Parenting" Let your child practice folding clothes.

Folding clothes is not difficult, but it's not easy to fold them neatly and beautifully. Usually, you have to be 4 years old or above to do it, so parents can let their children start practicing with a small handkerchief.　Written by Ko Po-shuen (柯寶絢) Contributing author of this article Mastering "Pitching, Folding, Aligning and Stacking".

When adults are folding clothes, children over 2 years old are always clamoring for help. At this point, you can give them some simple clothes as a "starter kit" for them. For example, give him a small square towel and teach him to hold two corners in each hand and press them against the other two. Even children under the age of 3 are capable of folding a small handkerchief twice. Once he learns how to fold a small square, he can start practicing folding clothes.

Folding clothes can be divided into several simple steps: flatten the clothes, fold the symmetrical sides, align the corners and hemlines, and fold the clothes up and put them away. Each step is not too difficult, but it is not easy to fold the clothes neatly. Mom and dad can help your child to pull a little bit after he finishes each action, which will help your child to do the next action and finish the finished product more neatly; however, mom and dad should not be too obvious so as not to interrupt your child.

From simple to difficult, step by step

Around 3 years old, you can let him try to fold simple short sleeves. At first, just fold and fold again, and then teach him to fold in the sleeves when he is familiar with the operation. As for shirts with buttons or small jackets with zippers, they need to be buttoned up and zipped up first, which is usually only possible at 3.5 years old. Just because a child can do it doesn't mean he or she can do it as fast or as well as an adult. It may take a long time for them to fold a piece of clothing, so parents need to be patient and wait for them to do it. However, as long as you give your child tips on how to do it, such as how to find the shoulder line that is easier to flatten and how to fold on a flat bed, and give him or her plenty of opportunities to practice, a 4-year-old can be a great folding helper.

Text/Excerpt from Pre-School Education Monthly