Dressing routines can play a meaningful role in improving orientation, especially for individuals who face challenges with daily life skills or spatial awareness. Orientation refers to a person’s ability to recognize their position in space and time, including awareness of their body and surroundings. Establishing consistent dressing routines helps reinforce this awareness by engaging both the mind and body in a structured activity.
When a person follows a dressing routine, they repeatedly practice recognizing clothing items, understanding the sequence of putting them on, and coordinating movements to dress properly. This repetition supports psychomotor skills, which involve the connection between cognitive functions and physical movement. For example, children or individuals with developmental challenges often improve their daily life skills, including dressing, through guided routines that encourage independence and body awareness. This process helps them better orient themselves in their environment and enhances their confidence in managing personal care tasks[2][3].
In therapeutic or rehabilitative settings, dressing routines are sometimes integrated into broader functional training programs. These programs aim to improve mobility, coordination, and cognitive function simultaneously. By incorporating dressing tasks into daily activities, individuals can develop a stronger sense of spatial orientation and timing, which are essential for independent living. For instance, autistic children with psychomotor deficits benefit from consistent dressing routines that help reduce confusion and improve their ability to perform daily tasks in a predictable manner[3].
Moreover, dressing routines can serve as practical life activities that foster a sense of competence and responsibility. When people, especially children, participate actively in dressing themselves, they engage in purposeful work that connects them to their environment and cultural norms. This engagement not only improves their motor skills but also enhances their internal motivation and intellectual development, which are closely linked to orientation and self-awareness[2].
In summary, dressing routines contribute to improving orientation by providing structured, repetitive practice that enhances body awareness, coordination, and cognitive connections. These routines support the development of essential life skills and can be particularly beneficial for individuals with developmental or psychomotor challenges.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12538938/
https://www.coastalsage.org/little-hands-big-purpose-the-power-of-practical-life
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-20597-3
